Teen Steroid Use Drops as Creatine Consumption Surges Amid Looksmaxxing Trend

A recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan reveals a significant shift in substance use among American teenagers. While anabolic steroid usage has declined substantially over the past two decades, creatine consumption has nearly doubled between 2019 and 2024. The study, published in Annals of Epidemiology and involving nearly 875,000 adolescents, attributes this surge partly to social media trends promoting "looksmaxxing," a culture focused on extreme physical appearance enhancement. Experts express concern regarding the rapid increase in creatine use, noting insufficient evidence on its long-term safety for younger populations. Although creatine is naturally occurring, high-dose supplementation has led to severe health issues in some cases. Furthermore, the declining perceived harmfulness of steroids suggests that shifting social norms around muscularity could potentially lead to increased steroid use in the future. The trend affects both genders, with girls showing a 168% increase in creatine use compared to a 90% increase among boys, driven by aesthetic pressures and fitness goals.