People have chased strength, speed, and certain looks for close to three thousand years. Long before steroids, Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), or peptides existed, athletes were eating animal organs, drinking mystery potions, and even consuming poison in the name of performance.

This edition of Users News outlines the long and sometimes bizarre history of Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs), and how that's influenced the landscape today. 

Steroid use is surging in Australia, and it’s no longer confined to any one particular social group. For those looking into the drugs or just starting out though, it’s hard to know where to source your knowledge and clean equipment. On your behalf, Users News has sifted through the online minefield and chatted to people working in harm reduction. Here’s what we learned.

Steroids can take the form of tablets, capsules, oral liquids and injectable liquids. Common slang terms for steroids include ‘roids’, ‘gear’ and ‘juice’. Steroids are synthetic substances that promote the growth of skeletal muscle.

Camil tells us about coming from Afghanistan as a refugee, using drugs and learning to tell his story