2013 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study


Nationally projectable survey results from the 2013 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) released by The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and MetLife Foundation confirmed a significant increase in the reported lifetime use of synthetic human growth hormone (hGH) among teens, underscoring teens’ growing interest in performance enhancing substances, as well as the need for tighter regulation and more accurate labeling of “fitness-enhancing” over-the-counter products purported to contain synthetic hGH.

Key Takeaways

The study reported concerning findings about teen use of synthetic hGH, with a rise in teen awareness of the marketing of performance-enhancing drugs, a softening of anti-drug attitudes and a disconnect in parent communication with their children about synthetic hGH and steroids. Additional key findings include the following: