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April 29, 2009
CDC survey tracks risky teen behaviors
The Los Angeles Times (4/13) reports that a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of teenagers about their behavior on health risks shows that "bad habits clearly start at a young age."
85 percent of bicycle riders and 24 percent of motorcycle riders said they never or rarely wore helmets, and 11 percent of car passengers said they never or rarely used seat belts. Over 29 percent said they had ridden in the past month with a driver who had consumed alcohol, 10.5 percent had driven after drinking.
Among respondents, 18 percent also said they had carried a weapon at least one day in the past month, and 5 percent said they had carried a gun. In addition, 20 percent said they smoked cigarettes, with over 8 percent claiming to be frequent smokers, while 20 percent said they had used marijuana, and over 3 percent cocaine during the past 30 days; over 44 percent said they drank alcohol, and 26 percent engaged in binge drinking.
The survey also reported numbers for use of other illegal substances, sexual activity, obesity, physical activity, sunscreen use and other health risk factors.
Posted by admin at April 29, 2009 05:26 PM
