NCJ Number
176718
Editor(s)
S M Hewitt
Date Published
1998
Length
96 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes results from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) national survey, 33 State surveys, 3 territorial surveys, and 17 local surveys conducted among high school students from February through May 1997.
Abstract
The YRBSS monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults: behaviors that contribute to unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. Findings show that in the United States, 73 percent of all deaths among youths and young adults 10-24 years of age result from four causes: motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. The YRBSS found that many high school students engage in behaviors that increase their likelihood of death from these four causes; 19.3 percent had rarely or never worn a seat belt; during the 30 days preceding the survey, 36.6 percent had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol; 18.3 percent had carried a weapon during the 30 days preceding the survey; 50.8 percent had drunk alcohol during the 30 days preceding the survey; 26.2 percent had used marijuana during the 30 days preceding the survey; and 7.7 percent had attempted suicide during the 12 months preceding the survey. In 1997 36.4 percent of high school students had smoked cigarettes during the 30 days preceding the survey. Among sexually active students, 43.2 percent had not used a condom at last sexual intercourse, and 2.1 percent had ever injected an illegal drug. 39 tables