Evidence-based approaches that educate youth to minimize high risk behaviors

Issues: Risk taking in adolescence is related to the socio-emotional system of the brain during this developmental stage that seeks rewards, especially peer recognition. Despite warnings and various educational interventions, many engage in smoking, drinking, drug use and unprotected sex. Description: The 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) found that 45% of U.S. high school students reported ever trying smoking cigarettes, 18% smoked cigarettes on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey, 5% smoked cigarettes on school property during the 30 days before the survey, and 50% did not try to quit smoking cigarettes. Also, 47% of high school students reported ever having sexual intercourse, 6% had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13 years, 15% had sexual intercourse with four or more persons during their life, 34% had sexual intercourse with at least one person during the 3 months before the survey, 40% did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse. 77% did not use any form of birth control before last sexual intercourse. Moreover, 22% drank alcohol or used drugs before their last sexual intercourse and 16% were never taught about AIDS or HIV infection in school. Lessons Learned: Adolescents need better education with comprehensive health services that provide functional health information, and shape their personal values and beliefs and group norms to support healthy behaviors. Recommendations: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has developed a set of principles/evidence-based strategies based on the body of its funded research.