Risky business: at-risk behavior dropping among black teens.FEWER BLACK U.S. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ENGAGing in certain risky behaviors compared with students of other races, according to the 2005 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 14,000 U.S. high school students were polled. Compared with whites and Hispanics, black high school students were least likely to use tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs; were least likely to drive when drinking alcohol; and were more likely to use condoms during sexual intercourse. "Overall, in all substance abuse areas, most kids are less likely to engage in risky behaviors over time," says Renee R Jenkins, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at Howard University College of Medicine. "But what's most promising is the usage of condoms by black young males." According to the survey, 42.3% of Hispanics and 37.4% of whites polled said they did not use a condom the last time they had sex, compared with 31.1% of blacks. "Black boys do better by using condoms," Jenkins says. "They are getting the message about HIV and sexually transmitted diseases." Jenkins attributes the results to national, state, and local programs that educate kids about the dangers of risky behaviors. "These programs help kids develop social competency skills. Helping young kids contemplate better futures [helps them] make better choices." Are currently sexually active (Had sexual intercourse with 1 person during the 3 months preceding the survey) Black 47.4% Hispanic 35% White 32% Did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse (Among currently sexually active students) Black 31.1% Hispanic 42.3% White 37.4% Lifetime hallucinogenic use (Used hallucinogenic drugs or more times during their life) Black 2.8% Hispanic 9.4% White 9.4% Life inhalant use (Sniffed to get high 1 or more times during their life) Black 6.8% Hispanic 13% White 13.4% Life Cocaine use (Used cocaine 1 or more times during their life) Black 2.3% Hispanic 12.4% White 7.7% Current cigarette use (Smoked cigarettes on 1 or more of the 30 days preceding the survey) Black 12.9% Hispanic 22% White 25.9% Drove when Drinking alcohol (A car or other vehicle 1 or more times during the 30 days preceding the survey) Black 4.9% Hispanic 10.5% White 11.3% Lifetime alcohol use (Drank alcohol 1 or more times during their life) Black 69% Hispanic 79.4% White 75.3% Current alcohol use (Had at least 1 drink of alcohol on 1 or more of the 30 days preceding the survey) Black 31.2% Hispanic 46.8% White 46.4% Episodic Heavy drinking (Had 5 drinks of alcohol in a row on 1 or more of the 30 days preceding the study) Black 11.1% Hispanic 25.3% White 29.9% Watched television 3 hours or more per day (On average school day) Black 64.1% Hispanic 45.8% White 29.2% Did not participate in any vigorous or moderate physical activity (During the 7 days preceding the survey) Black 14.4% Hispanic 10.6% White 8.1% Carries a weapon (A gun, knife, or club on 1 or more of the 30 days preceding the survey) Black 16.4% Hispanic 19% White 18.7% Current marijuana use (Used marijuana 1 or more times during the 30 days preceding the survey) Black 20.4% Hispanic 23% White 20.3% |
|
||||||||||||||||||

Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion