Legal performance enhancers associated with riskier alcohol use among youth

Adolescents who use legally available performance enhancers such as creatine are also likelier to drink in excess, according to new research. Scientists looked at longitudinal data from 1994-2008 among more than 12,000 individuals aged 18-26. Nearly 1 in 6 boys reported using performance enhancers, compared to 1% of girls in this cohort. At follow-up, boys who reported using these substances were likelier to report binge drinking in the year prior to being surveyed, of getting into legal trouble while drinking, and of having some kind of health problem. Girls who reported using performance enhancers were three times as likely to report emotional or physical health problems than those who didn't use these substances.