Sherry Everett Jones

Binge Drinking among Undergraduate College Students in the United States: Implications for Other Substance Use.

Abstract The authors examined the relationship between binge drinking and other substance use among US college students, using nationally representative data from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Compared with nonbinge drinkers, current binge drinkers were significantly more likely to report “ever” using and current use of cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, and other illegal drugs. The researchers also found that the more often students binge drank, the more likely they were to have ever used cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs, and the more likely they were to report current use of cigarettes and marijuana. Those who design programs to prevent binge drinking and use of other substances should take into account the reality that many students use more than one substance and that the more frequently students report binge drinking, the more likely they are to be using other substances as well.

Prevalence of School Policies, Programs, and Facilities That Promote a Healthy Physical School Environment

OBJECTIVES We examined the extent to which schools in the United States have health-promoting policies, programs, and facilities. METHODS We analyzed data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000. RESULTS We found that public schools (vs private and Catholic schools), urban schools (vs rural and suburban schools), and schools with larger enrollments (vs smaller schools) had more health-promoting policies, programs, and facilities in place. On average, middle schools had 11.0 and middle/junior and high schools had 10.4 out of a possible 18 policies, programs, and facilities. CONCLUSIONS Although some schools had many healthy physical environment features, room for improvement exists. Resources are available to help schools improve their health-promoting policies, programs, and facilities.

Relationship Between Physical Disabilities or Long-Term Health Problems and Health Risk Behaviors or Conditions Among US High School Students

BACKGROUND This study explores the relationship between self-reported physical disabilities or long-term health problems and health risk behaviors or adverse health conditions (self-reported engagement in violent behaviors, attempted suicide, cigarette smoking, alcohol and other drug use, sexual activity, physical activity, dietary behaviors, self-reported overweight [based on height and weight], physical health, and mental health) among US high school students. METHODS Data were from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions 2005 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a cross-sectional paper-and-pencil survey collected from a representative sample of public and private high school students (grades 9 through 12) in the United States. RESULTS Significantly more students with physical disabilities or long-term health problems than without described their health as fair or poor and reported being in a physical fight, being forced to have sexual intercourse, feeling sad or hopeless, seriously considering and attempting suicide, cigarette smoking, using alcohol and marijuana, engaging in sexual activity, using computers 3 or more hours per day, and being overweight (for all, p < or = .05). For none of the health risk behaviors analyzed were the rates significantly lower among students with physical disabilities or long-term health problems than among other students. CONCLUSIONS Young people who live with physical disabilities or long-term health problems may be at greater risk for poor health outcomes. Public health and school health programs, with guidance from health care providers, need to work with these adolescents and their families to develop and implement appropriate interventions, with particular emphasis on promoting mental health.

State Indoor Tanning Laws and Adolescent Indoor Tanning

OBJECTIVES Recently, several state indoor tanning laws, including age restrictions, were promulgated to reduce indoor tanning among minors. We examined the effects of these laws on adolescent indoor tanning. METHODS We used nationally representative data from the 2009 and 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (n = 31 835). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between state indoor tanning laws and indoor tanning among US high school students. RESULTS Female students in states with indoor tanning laws were less likely to engage in indoor tanning than those in states without any laws. We observed a stronger association among female students in states with systems access, parental permission, and age restriction laws than among those in states without any laws. We found no significant association among female students in states with only systems access and parental permission laws or among male students. CONCLUSIONS Indoor tanning laws, particularly those including age restrictions, may be effective in reducing indoor tanning among female high school students, for whom rates are the highest. Such reductions have the potential to reduce the health and economic burden of skin cancer.

Trends in Indoor Tanning Among US High School Students, 2009–2013

Indoor tanning increases the risk of skin cancer, particularly among frequent users and those initiating use at a young age.1,2 While previous research has demonstrated that indoor tanning is common among youth,3 to our knowledge, this study provides the first national estimates of indoor tanning trends among this population.

Substance use and sexual risk behaviors among american Indian and alaska native high school students.

BACKGROUND We describe the prevalence of behaviors that put American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) high school students at risk for teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the relationships among race/ethnicity and these behaviors. METHODS We analyzed merged 2007 and 2009 data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a biennial, self-administered, school-based survey of US students in grades 9-12 (N = 27,912). Prevalence estimates and logistic regression, controlling for sex and grade, were used to examine the associations between race/ethnicity, and substance use, and sexual risk behaviors. RESULTS Of the 26 variables studied, the adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were higher among AI/AN than White students for 18 variables (ranging from 1.4 to 2.3), higher among AI/AN than Black students for 13 variables (ranging from 1.4 to 4.2), and higher among AI/AN than Hispanic students for 5 variables (ranging from 1.4 to 1.5). Odds were lower among AI/AN than Black students for many of the sexual risk-related behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest it is necessary to develop targeted, adolescent-specific interventions aimed at reducing behaviors that put AI/AN high school students at risk for teen pregnancy, STI/HIV, and other health conditions.

Association between Bullying Victimization and Health Risk Behaviors among High School Students in the United States.

BACKGROUND Childhood exposure to adverse experiences has been associated with adult asthma, smoking, sexually transmitted disease, obesity, substance use, depression, and sleep disturbances. Conceptualizing bullying as an adverse childhood experience, 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data were used to examine the relationship between in-person and electronic bullying victimization among US high school students and health risk behaviors and conditions related to violence, substance use, sexual risk, overweight and physical activity, sleep, and asthma. METHODS Data were from the 2011 national YRBS among students who answered questions about in-person and electronic bullying (N = 13,846). The YRBS is a biennial, nationally representative survey of students in grades 9-12 (overall response rate = 71%). Logistic regression analyses, stratified by sex and controlling for race/ethnicity and grade, examined the association between bullying victimization and health risk behaviors or conditions. RESULTS Rates of victimization varied; 9.4% of students reported being bullied in-person and electronically, 10.8% only bullied in-person, 6.8% only electronically bullied, and 73.0% uninvolved. Bullying was associated with nearly all health risk behaviors and conditions studied. CONCLUSION Assessing the broad functioning and behaviors of victims of bullying could enable educators and health practitioners to intervene early and promote the long-term health of youth.

Asthma Inhalers in Schools: Rights of Students with Asthma to a Free Appropriate Education

Students who possess and self-administer their asthma medications can prevent or reduce the severity of asthma episodes. In many states, laws or policies allow students to possess and self-administer asthma medications at school. In the absence of a state or local law or policy allowing public school students to possess inhalers and self-medicate to treat asthma, 3 federal statutes may require public schools to permit the carrying of such medications by students: the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Local policies and procedures can be based on these federal laws to ensure that students with asthma can take their medicines as needed.

Indoor Tanning Device Use Among Male High School Students in the United States

PURPOSE Indoor tanning is a risk factor for developing melanoma. Although in 2009, 6.7% of male high school students reported using an indoor tanning device, compared with 25.4% of female students (Eaton DK, Kann L, Kinchen S, et al, MMWR Surveill Summ 2010;59:1-142), it is also less well characterized in male than in female adolescents. METHODS The associations between appearance-related and other health-related behaviors with indoor tanning device use were examined among male high school students in the United States, using the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. RESULTS Adjusted analysis of cross-sectional data showed that indoor tanning device use was positively associated with ever having taken steroids without a doctors prescription, unhealthy weight control practices, binge drinking, eating fruits and vegetables five or more times per day, playing on at least one sports team, and attempted suicide. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the relationship between indoor tanning device use and appearance-related and other health-related behaviors is useful in designing risk reduction interventions for skin cancer prevention.

Trends in Sunscreen Use Among U.S. High School Students: 1999–2009

PURPOSE To examine trends in sunscreen use during 1999-2009 among U.S. high school students. METHODS Data from the 1999-2009 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were analyzed. The surveys used a three-stage cluster sample design to produce nationally representative samples of students in grades 9-12 attending public and private schools. Student participation in the survey was anonymous and voluntary. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire during a regular class period. The overall response rates ranged from 63% to 72%. RESULTS During 1999-2009, the percentage of white students who never or rarely wore sunscreen when outside on a sunny day for >1 hour increased (from 57.5% to 69.4%), as did the percentage among Hispanic students (from 71.6% to 77.9%). This increase was most pronounced among white female students. The percentage of white and Hispanic students who most of the time or always wore sunscreen decreased during this same period. Rates of sunscreen use did not change among black students. CONCLUSIONS Because of declines in sunscreen use, professionals in clinical, school, and community settings should emphasize the important role sunscreen may play in preventing skin cancer.