Risky Behavior in Teens
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: Teen Years (13-19), High School, Alcohol Use, more...
The table below shows the percentage of teenager boys and girls who reported engaging in risky behaviors.
Percentage of U.S. Students Grades 9-12 Who Reported Engaging in Risky Behavior
| Risky Behavior | Girls | Boys |
| Substance Use | ||
| Alcohol (in last 30 days) | 45.8 | 43.8 |
| Tobacco (in last 30 days) | 24.6 | 30.3 |
| Marijuana (in last 30 days) | 19.3 | 25.1 |
| Cocaine (in last 30 days) | 3.5 | 4.6 |
| Inhalants (in last 30 days) | 3.4 | 4.3 |
| Heroin (in lifetime) | 2.0 | 4.3 |
| Methamphetamine (in lifetime) | 6.8 | 8.3 |
| Ecstacy (MDMA; in lifetime) | 10.4 | 11.6 |
| Illegal steroids (in lifetime) | 5.3 | 6.8 |
| Sexual Behaviors | ||
| Had sexual intercourse (in lifetime) | 45.3 | 48.0 |
| Sexually active (had intercourse in past 3 months) | 34.6 | 33.8 |
| No condom use during last intercourse (among sexually active adolescents) | 42.6 | 31.2 |
| Alcohol or drug use at last sexual intercourse (among sexually active adolescents) | 21.0 | 29.8 |
| Had four or more sexual partners (in lifetime) | 11.2 | 17.5 |
| Behaviors That Contribute to Unintentional Injuries | ||
| Rarely or never wore seat belts in car | 14.6 | 21.5 |
| Bicycle riding without helmets (among those who rode bicycle in last 12 months) | 84.2 | 87.2 |
| Rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol (in last 30 days) | 31.1 | 29.2 |
| Drove car after drinking alcohol (in last 30 days) | 8.9 | 15.0 |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004.
Excerpted From:
Excerpt from Child Development and Education, by T. M McDevitt & J. E. Ormrod, 2007 edition, p. 119.
© 2007, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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