This term is widely used for all substances that could be so described – steroids, hormones, cognitive enhancers, botox, tanning agents etc. In some cases, some groups of substances are excluded. This is usually in work that focusses on steroid use and the use of drugs that support a steroid regime – hormones and ‘fat burners’, for example.
There may be discomfort around the notion that these drugs necessarily enhance performance. Even drugs that do enhance performance in one area, for example weightlifting, may negatively affect performance in other areas, for example sexual performance.
There may be discomfort around the notion that these drugs necessarily enhance image and that this term simply may contribute to or support a person’s dysmorphic self-image and notions of images to which people should aspire.
Also, there may be discomfort around the notion that all of these substances are usefully described as drugs. Within the drug field, the term usually applies to psychoactive substances only and these are not (all) psychoactive substances.
Some people using some of these substances, for example tanning agents, may regard these as beauty products and may be alienated by reference to these substances as drugs.