June 3, 2010

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2009

In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System released a report which reviewed national data and 42 YBRSS state surveys that monitored six categories: behaviors that contribute to unintentional injury or violence, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, unhealthy dietary behaviors, and physical inactivity. The study report found that in 2009, 20% of high school students in the United States said they had taken a prescription drug. The prevalence of prescription drug abuse ranged from 26% among high school seniors to 15% among freshmen.