Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance. National Alternative High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 1998

Alternative high schools serve approximately 280,000 students in the USA. This survey monitored six categories of priority health-risk behaviours that contribute to unintentional & intentional injuries among youth & young adults. During the 12 months preceding the survey, 15.7% of respondents had attempted suicide. A comparison of the results of this survey to 1997 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance results demonstrates the prevalence of most risk behaviours is higher among students attending alternative high schools. Some risk behaviours are more common among certain gender & ethnic subgroups of students. (18 refs.)