Build your skills in responding to people who use performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs)

When: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Time: 9:30am–1:00pm
Duration: 3.5 hours
Location: Online

In this new half day workshop, we cover what you need to know when someone who uses anabolic steroids or other performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) presents at your service. Walk away with practical knowledge and skills to respond effectively to clients who may experience harms from their PIED use.  

There is a misconception that everyone who uses PIEDs is an overly muscular young man with a body image disorder. In reality, there are a wide range of people using PIEDs for various reasons and clients often don’t disclose their use due to stigma. Even when disclosed, practitioners often do not feel knowledgeable or skilled enough to respond effectively. This workshop will increase your confidence and skills in identifying, assessing, and responding to people who use PIEDs.

Learning outcomes

• Learn about who uses PIEDs and common issues
• Gain skills in screening for risky and harmful PIED use
• Understand how to adopt a harm reduction approach when supporting your clients
• Learn essential strategies to build rapport and to maximise client engagement and retention
• Utilise motivational approaches to assist clients to achieve change

Who should attend

This specialist skills workshop is suitable for new, experienced and advanced practitioners and alcohol and other drug workers in clinical and harm reduction settings.

Facilitator: Dr Katinka van de Ven