2009 MPS Youth Risk Behavior Survey The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is conducted in public schools nationwide every two years. It is a critical measure of health-risk behaviors in young people. The national effort is coordinated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Milwaukee, the survey is a joint effort of Milwaukee Public Schools and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

2009 MPS Youth Risk Behavior Survey The survey is conducted in MPS schools. Children take the survey voluntarily and anonymously. 2,645 middle grade students (6-8) participated in the 2009 YRBS 1,841 high school age students participated in the 2009 YRBS

2009 MPS Youth Risk Behavior Survey The information is divided along eight topics: – protective assets (support systems) – traffic safety – weapons and violence – Suicide – tobacco – alcohol and other drugs – sexual behavior – nutrition and exercise.

Protective Assets

Traffic Safety There has been a significant decrease in drinking and driving among MPS high school students between 2003 and During the last 30 days, one out of ten 18 year-old MPS students drove after drinking alcohol. During the last 30 days, one out of five 16- and 17-year- old MPS students drove after drinking alcohol. The percentage of MPS middle grade students who ever rode in a car driven by someone who has been drinking alcohol has declined significantly between 2001 and 2009.

Traffic Safety

Weapons and Violence MPS high school students were much less likely to experience violence on school grounds when compared to other places. 33% of MPS high school students agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that harassment and bullying by other students is a problem at their school. This represents a significant decrease in perceptions of bullying from 2007 (47%). 1 in 7 students (14%) high school students reported being hit, slapped, or kicked by their boyfriend or girlfriend during the past 12 months. More than 1 in 3 (32%) of MPS middle grade students have been bullied on school property at least one time in their life. More than 1 in 10 (13%) MPS middle grade students have been electronically bullied.

Weapons and Violence

Suicide Three out of ten (30%) of MPS high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in the last 12 months. There has been a significant increase in suicidal thinking among MPS middle age students between 2007 and Female middle grade students are significantly more likely than male students to have considered suicide; made a plan to commit suicide; and actually attempted suicide at some point in their life.

Suicide

Tobacco Use Cigarette smoking has remained low among MPS Middle grade students. Daily use of cigarettes has declined significantly from Use of cigarettes has decreased among MPS high school students. The prevalence of high school students who smoked a cigarette before the age of 13 decreased to 14% in 2009, compared to 17% in Most notably, the percentage of high school students who reported smoking cigarettes daily (at least one cigarette every day for the past 30 days) dropped to 8% in 2009, compared to 13% in 2003, a statistically significant decrease. Reports of high school students smoking cigarettes on school property decreased to 4% in 2009, compared to 7% in 2003.

Tobacco Use

Alcohol and other Drugs Approximately three in ten MPS high school students reported binge drinking (5 or more drinks of alcohol within a couple of hours) during the last thirty days and nearly three in ten reported using marijuana at least once during the last 30 days. The use of inhalants to get high has increased significantly by high school students between 2003 (6%) and 2009 (9%). The incidence of reported drug transactions on school grounds has decreased steadily and significantly. 23% of MPS high school students reported being offered, sold, or given illegal drugs on school property in 2009, compared with 33% in 2003.

Alcohol and other Drugs

Alcohol and other Drugs: Marijuana

Sexual Behavior High School males are more likely to start having sex at an earlier age than females and more likely to report having had sex at least once during their lifetime. MPS high school male students reported having had four or more sex partners during their lifetimes (33%) at a much higher rate than female students (16%). A sizable minority of MPS high school students (44%) reported having intercourse with at least one partner in the past three months.

Sexual Behavior

Sexual Behavior: Condom Use

Nutrition and Exercise Middle grade males are significantly more likely to be physically active than females. One in five middle grade students ate junk food every day during the past week. Overall, MPS high school students report inadequate levels of physical activity and consumption of fruits and fruit juices. 17% of High School students are overweight, while an additional 17% are obese. Females are more likely than males to be overweight, while males are more likely than females to fall into the obese category.

Nutrition and Exercise Habits broken down by gender

Nutrition and Exercise

Full report