Among the recommendations made in new draft guidelines published by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is one that suggests syringes should be made available in gyms.

It says that in order to prevent infection among rising numbers of people using steroids, fillers and tanning agents gyms should institute needle and syringe programmes.

Professor Mike Kelly, Director of NICE (Centre for Public Health Excellence), said “Since we last published our guidance on needle and syringe programmes in 2009, we’ve seen an increase in the use of performance and image enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, botulinum toxin products, tanning agents and the use of dermal fillers like collagen. We’ve also heard anecdotal evidence that more teenagers are injecting these performance and image enhancing drugs too”.

He went on “We’re updating our guidance – and our public consultation on the draft update is an important part of this process – to make sure all of these groups of people are considered in the planning and delivery of needle and syringe programmes. These services must continue to be configured in the most effective way to reach and support the people who need them the most, wherever they live, and protect their health as much as possible.”

Source: NICE