Table 1 Harm reduction techniques for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
Prevention strategy framework | Harm reduction techniques |
|---|---|
Primary prevention: planning and research to avoid AAS-related harm | - Researching and information gathering - Cycling steroids - Hiring of coaches and personal trainers - Monitoring for purity and quality of AAS - Optimizing diet and cardiovascular exercise - Avoiding use of other substances - Sterile injection techniques - Utilization of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV |
Secondary prevention: monitoring for AAS-related harms | - Checking for testicular shrinkage, increased breast mass - Monitoring blood pressure and vital signs - Performing self-guided blood testing (hemoglobin/hematocrit, basic metabolic panel, liver function tests, lipid panel, testosterone levels) |
Tertiary prevention: reducing and treating AAS-related harms | - Purchasing medications without prescription (off-label use of statins, aspirin, milk thistle, angiotensin receptor blockers, aromatase inhibitors) - Donating blood - Utilizing post-cycle therapy (off-label use of clomiphene, human chorionic gonadotropin, tamoxifen) |