Introduction

Abstract

This book evaluates the emergence of, and apparent increasing use of, non-prescription and prescription drugs in changing appearance. It will focus both on drugs used for weight loss and those used for muscle building. Many of these drugs have health risks and harmful side effects. This makes an understanding of their effects and motivations for their use for body modification crucially important to anyone with an interest in promoting health. In this introduction, we examine some of the current relevant literature before setting out the structure of the book. In summarising each section and chapter we show how exploring drug (mis)use from a psychosocial perspective, and drawing on a range of methodologies, can help in identifying clear implications for health promotion interventions designed to prevent or reduce drug (mis)use.