District/School Administration PK-16 Program Support
Nutrition, Health and Safety

FY 2005 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Dear Colleagues, Parents, and Students:

We are pleased to present the    Executive Summary of the 2005 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MYRBS) Results. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) conducted this anonymous and voluntary survey between February and June 2005 in 51 randomly selected high schools across the Commonwealth. The MYRBS provides important information about behaviors that may compromise the health, safety, and wellbeing of adolescents. These behaviors include tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; behaviors leading to injuries, such as drinking and driving, fighting, weapon-carrying, and suicide attempts; dietary behaviors and physical inactivity; and sexual behaviors that may result in sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV infection) and pregnancy. Because of high student and school participation rates, the results of the survey give an accurate estimate of the prevalence of these risk behaviors among high school students in Massachusetts.

The results reported here show successes in a number of important areas. In the 2005 MYRBS results, we see a pattern of continued steady decline in many risk behaviors. For example, rates of lifetime and daily cigarette smoking, binge drinking and driving after drinking, marijuana use, fighting, dating violence, and considering or attempting suicide are the lowest they have been in ten years. These are very encouraging trends.

The results reported here attest to efforts on the part of schools, families, and communities to prevent and reduce adolescent risk behaviors. The Department is committed to addressing barriers to student learning and to improving the health and safety of all students.

Thank you for your own continued commitment to improving the lives and health of youth in Massachusetts.

Sincerely,