Consumption in contrast: The politics of comparison in healthcare practitioners' accounts of men who inject performance and image-enhancing drugs.

摘要: Abstract In recent years, Australian researchers’ interest in the use of performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) has grown, part because PIEDs is thought to be on rise. much existing research, PIED consumers are described as a new unique cohort service users, with distinct needs, expectations views regarding provision, harm reduction risk. There some evidence that policymakers providers have been unsure how best support this seemingly cohort. Are their needs different those people who other illicit drugs, or same? How so? And might we design services these similarities and/or differences mind? As questions suggest, understandings our efforts address it often heavily reliant comparisons, including between consume kinds drugs. This article engages central role comparisons shaping PIED-related delivery design, considers what at stake drawing comparisons. We explore issues through an analysis 20 interviews healthcare professionals conducted for major research project PIEDs. explain, comparison was tool commonly used by many participants – way thinking ‘are’ they need. Drawing work philosopher science Isabelle Stengers (2011) application politics drug treatment ( Fraser & Ekendahl, 2018 ), argue such can reproduce normalising ideals flawed hierarchies, consumption positioned less desirable than ‘mainstream’ ways being living, but more forms use. The identify may also concretise naturalise consumers, positioning difference somehow linked individual attributes capacities thus foreclosing about political contexts which made give them meaning. concluding, encourage difference, whether identified shaped forces beyond raised accounts, means both future policy responses research.