Survey shows where youth are at risk

The 2011 results of the South Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which was given to students in 9-12 grades, were released in early April. Here are some of the findings:

• 27 percent of students were bullied on school property in the past 12 months
• 20 percent had been bullied electronically during the past 12 months
• 18 percent seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months
• 49 percent were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day during five or more of the past seven days
• 22 percent wrongly believe smokeless tobacco is safer than cigarettes
• 26 percent had five or more drinks of alcohol within a couple of hours, on one or more of the past 30 days
• 24 percent of currently sexually active students, defined as those who’ve had sexual intercourse during the past three months, drank alcohol or used drugs before their last sexual intercourse

Youth Risk Behavior Survey - Dakota vs. National Comparison