HGH use up among high school students
The number of high school students using human growth hormone more than doubled in the past year, according to a survey from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
A survey found that out of the 3,705 high school teens in grades 9-12 that were polled, 11 percent say that have used synthetic HGH without a doctor’s prescription.
In 2011 and 2012, the number was five percent. Steroids use also rose among teens, according to survey.
African-American and Hispanic teenagers report using synthetic HGH at higher rates, with 15 percent of African-American teens and 13 percent of Hispanic teens saying they have tried the hormone. Nine percent of Caucasian teens say they used synthetic HGH at least once in their lifetime.
“The results of this study further demonstrate the importance of educating young people, their parents and coaches on the risks associated with the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and the need to protect young people from those who would prey on them as easy marketing targets,” Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, said.
- Scooby Axson
