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A recent CDC teen behavior survey shows a few significant findings related to our young people. Less fights, fewer teens smoking and too much texting and driving.

This survey is conducted every two years in 42 states. The key findings according to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) are:

Cigarette smoking rates among high school students have dropped to 15.7 percent, meeting the Healthy People 2020 objective of reducing adolescent cigarette use to 16 percent or less.

• The percentage of high school students nationwide who had been in a physical fight at least once during the past 12 months decreased from 42 percent in 1991 to 25 percent in 2013.
• Fights on school property have been cut in half during the past 20 years, from 16 percent in 1993 to 8 percent in 2013.
• Nationwide, 41 percent of students who had driven a car or other vehicle during the past 30 days reported texting or emailing while driving.
• The percentage of high school students who are currently sexually active has declined from 38 percent in 1991 to 34 percent in 2013. 
• Among the high school students who are currently sexually active, condom use also has declined from 63 percent in 2003 to 59 percent in 2013.

The report also indicates varied trends in obesity-related behaviors in recent years, such as excessive screen time (TV/computer use) and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages like soda. The full report can be found at www.cdc.gov/yrbs.

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