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%