Monday, June 11, 2012

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance 2011

It's that time again. Every two years the federal government surveys thousands of students in 9th through 12th grade in public and private schools across the nation. Students are asked all sorts of questions about drugs, drinking, sex, and violence--risky behavior that contributes to the majority of deaths of teens and young adults. The CDC publishes the results in a lengthy report, with details by grade, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and with data for states and 21 large urban school districts.

The 2011 results are now available, and they show plenty of reasons for parents to worry. In the past month, for example, 33 percent of high school students texted while driving, 38 percent drank, and 23 percent used marijuana. Thirty-one percent played video games for three or more hours a day. On a more positive note, only 6 percent did not eat their vegetables.

Source: CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance--2011

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