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If you find me on the floor, stick some sugar in my mouth: The social production (and protection) of insulin risk among IPED communities.

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Title: If you find me on the floor, stick some sugar in my mouth: The social production (and protection) of insulin risk among IPED communities.
Authors: Akrigg, Kim (AUTHOR), Cox, Luke (AUTHOR), Turnock, Luke A. (AUTHOR), Richardson, Andrew (AUTHOR), Piatkowski, Timothy (AUTHOR)
Source: Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. Feb2026, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p91-102. 12p.
Subjects: Risk assessment, Health literacy, Community health services, Qualitative research, Risk-taking behavior, Risk management in business, Interviewing, Affinity groups, Insulin, Descriptive statistics, Communities, Social norms, Harm reduction, Thematic analysis, Research, Research methodology, Social support, Ergogenic aids, Hypoglycemia, Doping in sports
Abstract: Introduction: Insulin is used among image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) communities for its anabolic effects, but its use carries significant risks, with the acute danger being hypoglycaemia, which can be life-threatening if not properly managed. Within these communities, harm reduction practices and informal peer knowledge exchange play a critical role in the way substances are consumed. This qualitative study sought to understand these community practices regarding non-medical insulin use among people who use IPEDs. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who use IPEDs, and specifically, insulin. Participants were asked about their risk practices, harm reduction strategies, and the community dynamics that shape their use of insulin. Our analysis centred on how social and material networks of peers, technologies, and information flows contribute to the social production and protection of risk. Results: The study involved an international cohort of 14 participants (13 men, 1 woman, aged 25-45, M = 33.34) who used insulin for non-medical purposes. The analysis revealed two themes: Intersecting Risks, which encompassed the physical, psychosocial, and self-imposed risks associated with insulin use, and Social Protection of Risks, focusing on community-driven harm reduction strategies. People who use insulin actively construct risk through community-driven knowledge and informal education. Social protection is facilitated through peer networks, where harm reduction strategies are shared. Discussion: This research underscores the importance of community-care in harm reduction and challenges individualised models of risk management. It highlights the need for community-centred health interventions that recognise the relational dynamics of risk management among IPED-using communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: If you find me on the floor, stick some sugar in my mouth: The social production (and protection) of insulin risk among IPED communities.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Drugs%3A+Education%2C+Prevention+%26+Policy%22">Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p91-102. 12p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+assessment%22">Risk assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+literacy%22">Health literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+health+services%22">Community health services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk-taking+behavior%22">Risk-taking behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+management+in+business%22">Risk management in business</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Affinity+groups%22">Affinity groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Insulin%22">Insulin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communities%22">Communities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+norms%22">Social norms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Harm+reduction%22">Harm reduction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ergogenic+aids%22">Ergogenic aids</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hypoglycemia%22">Hypoglycemia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Doping+in+sports%22">Doping in sports</searchLink>
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  Data: Introduction: Insulin is used among image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) communities for its anabolic effects, but its use carries significant risks, with the acute danger being hypoglycaemia, which can be life-threatening if not properly managed. Within these communities, harm reduction practices and informal peer knowledge exchange play a critical role in the way substances are consumed. This qualitative study sought to understand these community practices regarding non-medical insulin use among people who use IPEDs. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who use IPEDs, and specifically, insulin. Participants were asked about their risk practices, harm reduction strategies, and the community dynamics that shape their use of insulin. Our analysis centred on how social and material networks of peers, technologies, and information flows contribute to the social production and protection of risk. Results: The study involved an international cohort of 14 participants (13 men, 1 woman, aged 25-45, M = 33.34) who used insulin for non-medical purposes. The analysis revealed two themes: Intersecting Risks, which encompassed the physical, psychosocial, and self-imposed risks associated with insulin use, and Social Protection of Risks, focusing on community-driven harm reduction strategies. People who use insulin actively construct risk through community-driven knowledge and informal education. Social protection is facilitated through peer networks, where harm reduction strategies are shared. Discussion: This research underscores the importance of community-care in harm reduction and challenges individualised models of risk management. It highlights the need for community-centred health interventions that recognise the relational dynamics of risk management among IPED-using communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=191011786
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/09687637.2025.2481292
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 91
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health literacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community health services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk-taking behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Risk management in business
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
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      – SubjectFull: Affinity groups
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      – SubjectFull: Insulin
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      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Communities
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      – SubjectFull: Social norms
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      – SubjectFull: Harm reduction
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      – SubjectFull: Hypoglycemia
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      – SubjectFull: Doping in sports
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: If you find me on the floor, stick some sugar in my mouth: The social production (and protection) of insulin risk among IPED communities.
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              Text: Feb2026
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              Y: 2026
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