Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) and the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) jointly released the results of the 2007 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS). The survey studies the actions and attitudes of students on a variety of subjects including: tobacco, alcohol and drug use; diet and weight; physical activity; injury, violence, and suicide; and sexual behavior. The latest findings show that over the past 10 years Mississippi public high school students have made positive changes in activities that affect their long-term health and well-being.

Significant findings from the survey include:

• a nearly 70 percent decrease in the number of students smoking on school campuses;
• a 39 percent decrease in the number of students who smoke;
• twenty-six percent more students using seat belts when riding in vehicles;
• and a 31 percent decrease in the number of students seriously considering suicide.

On the downside, there has been a 37 percent increase in overweight students.

According to State Health Officer Dr. Ed Thompson, the news is good because the findings suggest that students are making wiser choices about their health and the factors that affect their lives long-term.

"Although we are encouraged by the results of this study, there is still work to do to help these young Mississippians continue making positive changes," he said. "The survey gives us vital information about where to focus that help, and also tells us if what we are doing is actually effective."

The MDE uses the survey as a tool to determine where to direct its attention, personnel and resources.

"The Youth Risk Behavior Survey serves as an important barometer of what health issues teens in our state face and how they are coping with those issues," said Dr. Hank Bounds, State Superintendent of Education. "The Office of Healthy Schools in the MDE works very hard to help schools utilize a comprehensive school health approach that helps all students be fit, healthy and ready to succeed. We want to focus on the issues that will help our students the most, and the results of the survey help to define those issues."

The 2007 YRBS was administered jointly by the MSDH and the MDE to students across the state. Student participation is voluntary and anonymous.

2007 Mississippi YRBS Summary Findings
1997 / 2007 Comparison

Injury, Violence and Suicide

• The percentage of students rarely or never using safety belts has significantly decreased from 31.2% in 1997 to 23% in 2007.
• The percentage of students riding during the past 30days with a driver who had been drinking has significantly decreased from 41.3% in 1997 to 30.5% in 2007.
• The percentage of students driving a car during the past 30 days when they have been drinking alcohol has decreased from 15.1% in 1997 to 11.8% in 2007.
• The percentage of students carrying a weapon on one or more of the past 30 days has decreased from 23.3% in 1997 to 17.3% in 2007.
• The percentage of students carrying a weapon on school property on one or more of the past 30 days has significantly decreased from 9.8% in 1997 to 4.8% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who were in a physical fight one or more times during the past 12 months has decreased from 36.6% in 1997 to 30.6% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who were in a physical fight on school property one or more times during the past 12 months has decreased from 16.0% in 1997 to 11.9% in 2007.
• The percentage of students considering seriously attempting suicide during the past 12 months has significantly decreased from 19.5% in 1997 to 13.4% in 2007.

Tobacco Use

• The percentage of students who ever tried cigarette smoking has significantly decreased from 71.4% in 1997 to 57.8% in 2007.
•  The percentage of students who smoked cigarettes on one or more of the past 30 days has significantly decreased from 31.3% in 1997 to 19.2 in 2007.
• The percentage of students who smoked cigarettes on school property on one or more of the past 30 days has significantly decreased from 13.2% in 1997 to 4.0 in 2007.
• The percentage of students who smoked a whole cigarette for the first time before age 13 has decreased from 23.1 in 1997 to 17.0% in 2007.

Alcohol and Drug Use

• The percentage of students who have had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days has decreased from 46.4% in 1997 to 40.6% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who have had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row on one or more of the past 30 days has decreased from 23.9% in 1997 to 21.2% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who used marijuana one or more times during the past 30 days has decreased from 21.3% in 1997 to 16.7% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who used marijuana on school property in the past 30 days has significantly decreased from 5.2% in 1997 to 2.7% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who used any form of cocaine one or more times during the past 30 days has increased from 2.0% in 1997 to 2.7% in 2007
• The percentage of students who have had someone offer, sell, or give them an illegal drug on school property during the past 12 months has significantly decreased from 24.1% in 1997 to 15.6% in 2007.

Diet and Weight

• The percentage of students who described themselves as slightly or very overweight has increased from 25.3% in 1997 to 27.1% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who were trying to lose weight has increased from 38.0% in 1997 to 43.4% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who vomited or took laxatives to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight during the past 30 days has increased from 5.0% 1997 to 5.7% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who are overweight has significantly increased from 13.1% in 1999 to 17.9% in 2007. *
• The percentage of students who are at risk for becoming overweight has increased from 17.2% in 1999 to 17.9% in 2007. *

Physical Activity

• The percentage of students who attended physical education class one or more days in an average school week has decreased from 39.1% in 1997 to 35.9% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who attended physical education class daily increased from 20.3% in 1999 to 23.4% in 2007. *
• The percentage of students who played on one or more sports teams during the past 12 months has decreased from 55.3% in 1999 to 53.4% in 2007. *

Sexual Behavior

• The percentage of students who were ever taught about AIDS or HIV infection in school has decreased from 86.0% in 1997 to 81.7% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who ever have had sexual intercourse has decreased with marginal significance from 69.5% in 1997 to 59.5% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who have had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13 has significantly decreased from 21.2% in 1997 to 13.3% in 2007.
• The percentage of students who have had sexual intercourse with 4 or more people during their life decreased significantly from 31.4% in 1997 to 22.5% in 2007. 

* 1999 figures used when questions were not part of the 1997 Survey.

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Press Contact: Liz Sharlot, Carol Jones or Elizabeth Grey, (601) 576-7667.