NC youth risk behavior results released


North Carolina high school students have improved their health habits in some areas, but still need to focus on others, such as maintaining a healthy weight, according to the recently released 2007 North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data report.

Since 1993, fewer students have tried alcohol for the first time before age 13, used tobacco, marijuana and other types of drugs, or carried a weapon or were threatened with one.

However, the prevalence of some health risk behaviors measured by the YRBS remains high. Since 2005, an increased percentage of high school students appear to be at-risk for becoming overweight, use cocaine and other injected illegal drugs, and say they have avoided school due to safety concerns.

Additional information can be found in the 2007 YRBS report, which is available on the Department of Public Instruction’s Web site.