Human Growth Hormone and Street Drug Use

Published:January 23rd, 2011

 

Illicit human growth hormone is widely used among American male weightlifters and has been linked to polysubstance abuse involving performance enhancing and street drugs by Harvard scientists. The human growth hormone referred to in these findings is the protein manufactured to be nearly identical to the naturally occurring human growth hormone.

Because human growth hormone is responsible for stimulating tissue growth, height, protein, carbohydrate, lipid and mineral metabolism, products that are illegally sold are widely used by male weightlifters who also use anabolic androgenic steroids but also opioids, cocaine or ectasy.

The researchers from Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts interviewed 231 male weightlifters aged between 18 and 40 and the study found that use of illegal HGH is common and linked to use of street drugs. Growing numbers of male weight lifters take HGH to enhance performance, according to the study published in American Journal on Addictions.

Once an expensive performance enhancing drug, human growth hormone is now cheaply available for illicit users on the street. However, natural human growth hormone releasers or boosters do not pose the same threat as illicit HGH. HGH supplements offer an safer alternative to elevate the levels of growth hormone. Instead of getting the hormone directly, HGH releasers are designed to help the pituitary gland secrete extra growth hormone in a natural, harmless way.

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