How many teens use performance-enhancing drugs?
It’s difficult to know precisely how many teens use performance-enhancing drugs. One reason is that scientists rely on kids involved in sports as their source of information. Obviously, some kids who take surveys will not admit drug use. Testing for drugs in youth sports is an expensive and complex issue that makes widespread testing impractical. The use of anabolic steroids by young athletes has increased primarily among weightlifters and gymnasts. Studies suggest that five to 11 percent of high school boys and .5 percent to 2.5 percent of high school girls have tried anabolic steroids. Why do teens take them? Given all the negative effects associated with performance-enhancing drugs, it seems strange that healthy children and young adults would want to risk their health. However, teens tend to deny their mortality and take risks they might not take if they were older and wiser. Here are some situations in which they might consider taking performance-enhancing drugs. • Most athletes r
