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Teens Engaging in Less Risky Behaviors [07/01-1]

Excerpts from: Teens Engaging Less in Risky Behavior

SEE SPECIFIC REPORT ON SMOKING AND TOBACCO USE BELOW

By:Adam Marcus, HealthScoutNews http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index&cid=97[06-27-02]

Now that Ozzy Ozborne's domestic life now has more appeal than his music, could sex and drugs -- if not rock and roll -- be losing favor with American adolescents?

Maybe so, according to a new government survey showing that being a teen isn't quite such risky business as it used to be.

More teens are delaying sex, avoiding drugs and tobacco, and wearing seat belts when they take to the roads than did five years ago, says a new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( news - web sites). Fewer high school students are carrying weapons, riding with intoxicated drivers, and contemplating or attempting suicide, the 34-state, 18-city Youth Risk Behaviors Surveillance Survey said.

"The youth in our high schools are increasingly acting like responsible young men and women -- making responsible choices that will protect themselves now and well into the future," Health and Human Services ( news - web sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson said in a statement.

But both Thompson and Laura Kann, a CDC behavioral scientist and a co-author of the study, said not every grade on the latest report card would earn a spot on the fridge.

"While we've seen some important improvements over the last 10 years, there are still too many kids [doing things] that will cause them health, education, and social problems," Kann said.

For example, the number of teens who consume alcohol remained steady between 1991 and 2001, health officials said: Nearly half had at least one drink in the 30 days before the survey. And three in 10 said they'd had five or more drinks at a sitting -- considered a binge -- in that time.

Cocaine use, both current and past, jumped from 6 percent to 9 percent during the period, and regular use of the drug doubled from 2 to 4 percent.

The survey, which showed wide variation from state to state, also looked at eating and exercise habits, and found some alarming numbers.

Nearly one in nine high school students was overweight in 2001, and another 14 percent were at risk of becoming so. Only 21 percent, or about one in five, said they got the recommended five servings a day or fruits and vegetables.

Fewer teens are exercising regularly at school now than were in 1991, too. Although overall participation in physical education classes stayed steady, participation in daily PE fell. More than one in three students (35 percent) said they didn't get 20 minutes a day or more of vigorous exercise at least three times a week.

But officials said they were encouraged by other trends that could improve adolescent health and reduce their risk of injuries and death.

The share of teens who said they never or rarely buckled up fell from 26 percent in 1991 to 14 percent in 2001. Last year, 31 percent of youth said they'd ridden in a car with someone who'd been drinking alcohol, down from 40 percent in 1991.

Smoking rates spiked during the early 1990s, but are on their way back down. The reason, Kann said, is higher tobacco taxes and aggressive education and antismoking campaigns. In 1991, 28 percent of teens said they smoked, a figure that rose to 36 percent in 1997 before falling to 29 percent in 2002.

Marijuana use, both current or lifetime, has followed a similar pattern. It rose in the middle of the decade and headed lower in recent years. In 2002, 42 percent of youth said they'd smoked pot at least once, compared with 47 percent in 1997 and 31 percent in 1991.

Teens appear to be keeping a lid on their libido, too.

The share of students who'd had sex dropped from 54 percent in 1991 to 46 percent in 2002. The proportion who'd had four or more sex partners -- a risk factor for infections like HIV ( news - web sites) and gonorrhea -- also fell, to 14 percent from 19 percent at the beginning of the 1990s.

Meanwhile, condom use is up, from 46 percent to 58 percent of youths at the last time they had sex, although that figure has remained level since 1999.

Ralph Hingson, a Boston University teen health expert, said some of the last decade's most significant decreases in risky behavior are the result of policies targeting young drivers. Every state but one, for example, now has a seat belt laws for motorists, and 18 states have enacted rules that let police officers stop drivers for not wearing the restraints.

Making these "primary enforcement" laws a nationwide policy would likely prevent 600 alcohol-related traffic deaths each year, and another 1,000 fatal accidents that don't involve drinking, Hingson said. The effect would be particular strong on young drivers, he added.

Similarly, in 1991 only four states had laws making it illegal for a minor to drive with a positive blood alcohol content. Now, every state has such a provision, which helps reduce drunken driving by teens.

EXCERPTS FROM THE CDC REPORT:
 

Cigarette Use  Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance --- United States, 2001

  Nationwide, 63.9% of students had ever tried cigarette smoking (even one or two puffs) (i.e., lifetime cigarette use) (Table 14).
  Male students (66.3%) were significantly more likely than female students (61.6%) to have ever tried cigarette smoking.
  Overall, Hispanic students (69.3%) were significantly more likely than black students (58.3%) to have ever tried cigarette
  smoking. Hispanic female students (67.8%) were significantly more likely than black female students (56.7%), and Hispanic
  and white male students (70.9% and 67.4%, respectively) were significantly more likely than black male students (59.9%) to
  report this behavior. Overall, students in grades 11 and 12 (65.9% and 71.1%, respectively) were significantly more likely than
  students in grade 9 (58.4%) to have ever tried cigarette smoking, and students in grade 12 (71.1%) were significantly more
  likely than students in grade 10 (62.6%) to report this behavior. Prevalence of lifetime cigarette use ranged from 30.5% to
  71.6% (median: 66%) across state surveys and from 48.9% to 68% (median: 58%) across local surveys (Table 15).

  One fifth of students (20%) nationwide had ever smoked >1 cigarettes every day for 30 days (i.e., lifetime daily cigarette use)
  (Table 14). Overall, white students (23.9%) were significantly more likely than Hispanic and black students (12.4% and 7.7%,
  respectively), and Hispanic students (12.4%) were significantly more likely than black students (7.7%) to report lifetime daily
  cigarette use. These significant racial/ethnic differences were identified for female students. White male students (24.7%) were
  significantly more likely than Hispanic and black male students (13.4% and 9%, respectively) to report lifetime daily cigarette
  use. Overall, students in grades 11 and 12 (22.1% and 26.9%, respectively) were significantly more likely than students in
  grade 9 (14.3%) to report lifetime daily cigarette use, and students in grade 12 (26.9%) were significantly more likely than
  students in grade 10 (19.1%) to report this behavior. Across state surveys, prevalence of lifetime daily cigarette use varied
  threefold from 8.5% to 25.6% (median: 19.5%) (Table 15). Across local surveys, prevalence varied threefold from 5.7% to
  16.8% (median: 9.4%).

  Nationwide, 28.5% of students had smoked cigarettes on >1 of the 30 days preceding the survey (i.e., current cigarette use)
  (Figure 4) (Table 14). White and Hispanic students (31.9% and 26.6%, respectively) were significantly more likely than black
  students (14.7%) to report current cigarette use. This significant racial/ethnic difference was identified for both female and male
  students. Overall, students in grade 12 (35.2%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 and 10 (23.9% and
  26.9%, respectively) to report current cigarette use. Across state surveys, prevalence of current cigarette use varied fourfold
  from 8.3% to 35.3% (median: 27.6%) (Table 15). Across local surveys, prevalence ranged from 11.9% to 24.7% (median:
  17%).

  Nationwide, 13.8% of students had smoked cigarettes on >20 of the 30 days preceding the survey (i.e., current frequent
  cigarette use) (Table 14). Overall, white students (17.2%) were significantly more likely than Hispanic and black students
  (7.3% and 4.6%, respectively) to report current frequent cigarette use. This significant racial/ethnic difference was identified for
  both female and male students. Overall, students in grades 11 and 12 (15.2% and 21%, respectively) were significantly more
  likely than students in grade 9 (8.9%) to report current frequent cigarette use, and students in grade 12 (21%) were
  significantly more likely than students in grade 10 (12.3%) to report this behavior. Prevalence of current frequent cigarette use
  varied fourfold from 4.2% to 18.8% (median: 14%) across state surveys and varied fourfold from 2.7% to 9.9% (median:
  4.8%) across local surveys (Table 15).

  Nationwide, 4.1% of students who reported current cigarette use, smoked >10 cigarettes per day on the days they smoked
  (Table 14). Overall, male students (5.2%) were significantly more likely than female students (3.1%) to smoke >10 cigarettes
  per day. This significant sex difference was identified for white students. Overall, white students (5.3%) were significantly more
  likely than Hispanic and black students (1.8% and 1.1%, respectively) to smoke >10 cigarettes per day. This significant
  racial/ethnic difference was identified for male students. White female students (4%) were significantly more likely than black
  female students (0.7%) to smoke >10 cigarettes per day. Overall, students in grades 11 and 12 (4.8% and 6.6%,
  respectively) were significantly more likely than students in grade 9 (2.2%) to smoke >10 cigarettes per day, and students in
  grade 12 (6.6%) were significantly more likely than students in grade 10 (3.6%) to report this behavior. Prevalence varied
  sevenfold from 1% to 7.3% (median: 3.7%) across state surveys and varied eightfold from 0.3% to 2.5% (median: 1.1%)
  across local surveys (Table 15).

  Smokeless Tobacco Use

  Nationwide, 8.2% of students had used smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip) on >1 of the 30 days preceding
  the survey (i.e., current smokeless tobacco use) (Table 16). Overall, male students (14.8%) were significantly more likely than
  female students (1.9%) to report current smokeless tobacco use. This significant sex difference was identified for all the
  racial/ethnic and grade subpopulations. Overall, white and Hispanic students (10.3% and 4.1%, respectively) were significantly
  more likely than black students (1.8%) to report current smokeless tobacco use, and white students (10.3%) were significantly
  more likely than Hispanic students (4.1%) to do so. These significant racial/ethnic differences were identified for male students.
  White female students (2.1%) were significantly more likely than black female students (0.7%) to report current smokeless
  tobacco use. Prevalence of current smokeless tobacco use varied sixfold from 2.9% to 18.1% (median: 8.2%) across state
  surveys and from 1.1% to 6.4% (median: 3%) across local surveys (Table 17).

  Cigar Use

  Nationwide, 15.2% of students had smoked cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars on >1 of the 30 days preceding the survey (i.e.,
  current cigar use) (Table 16). Overall, male students (22.1%) were significantly more likely than female students (8.5%) to
  report current cigar use. This significant sex difference was identified for all the racial/ethnic and grade subpopulations. White
  male students (23.8%) were significantly more likely than black male students (15.8%) to report current cigar use. Overall,
  students in grade 12 (18%) were significantly more likely than students in grade 9 (12.5%) to report current cigar use.
  Prevalence of current cigar use varied fivefold from 4.1% to 19.3% (median: 14.8%) across state surveys and varied threefold
  from 5.1% to 16.3% (median: 12%) across local surveys (Table 17).

  Current Tobacco Use

  Nationwide, 33.9% of students had reported current cigarette use, current smokeless tobacco use, or current cigar use on >1
  of the 30 days preceding the survey (i.e., current tobacco use) (Table 16). Male students (38.5%) were significantly more
  likely than female students (29.5%) to report current tobacco use. This significant sex difference was identified for white
  students and students in grades 11 and 12. Overall, white and Hispanic students (37.7% and 29.4%, respectively) were
  significantly more likely than black students (19.4%) to report current tobacco use, and white students (37.7%) were
  significantly more likely than Hispanic students (29.4%) to do so. White and Hispanic female students (32.3% and 27.2%,
  respectively) were significantly more likely than black female students (17.4%) to report current tobacco use, and white male
  students (43.4%) were significantly more likely than Hispanic and black male students (31.5% and 21.6%, respectively) to do
  so. Overall, students in grades 11 and 12 (36.1% and 41%, respectively) were significantly more likely than students in grade
  9 (28.1%) to report current tobacco use, and students in grade 12 (41%) were significantly more likely than students in grade
  10 (32.6%) to do so. Across state surveys, current tobacco use varied fourfold from 9.8% to 41.4% (median: 32.5%) (Table
  17). Across local surveys, prevalence ranged from 14.7% to 27.1% (median: 19.1%).

  Access to Cigarettes and Proof of Age

  Data regarding access to cigarettes are reported only for those students aged <18 years who reported current cigarette use.
  Nationwide, 19.1% of these students had purchased their cigarettes in a store or gas station during the 30 days preceding the
  survey (Table 18). Male students (25.7%) were significantly more likely than female students (13.1%) to have done so. This
  significant sex difference was identified for white students and students in all of the grade subpopulations. Overall, students in
  grades 10, 11, and 12 (19.1%, 28.7%, and 23.6%, respectively) were significantly more likely than students in grade 9
  (8.8%) to have purchased cigarettes in a store or gas station, and students in grade 11 (28.7%) were significantly more likely
  than students in grade 10 (19.1%) to have done so. State prevalence varied ninefold from 4.4% to 39.1% (median: 18.6%),
  and local prevalence varied threefold from 14.2% to 46.4% (median: 26.9%) (Table 19).

  Approximately two thirds of students (67.2%) who purchased or attempted to purchase cigarettes in a store or gas station
  during the 30 days preceding the survey had not been asked to show proof of age (Table 18). State prevalence ranged from
  60% to 74.1% (median: 69.7%) (Table 19).