Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/SeanWilliams

This booklet provides a statistical portrait of teen participation in 10 of the most prevalent risk behaviors. It focuses on the overall participation in each behavior and in multiple risk-taking. The booklet presents the overall incidence and patterns of teen involvement in the following risk behaviors: Regular alcohol use; Regular binge drinking; Regular tobacco use; Marijuana use; Other illegal drug use; Fighting; Weapon carrying; Suicidal thoughts; Suicide attempts; Risky sexual activity.

A portrait of multiple risk-taking among teens. Using recent data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM), we describe the degree to which teens engage in multiple health risk behaviors and contrast it with the extent to which teens participate in positive behaviors such as spending time with parents and being involved in extra-curricular activities. Describing participation in these behaviors is an important part of understanding teens' exposure to health risks and monitoring efforts to reduce those risks.

There is a glaring gap in teen pregnancy prevention efforts: information about how males could and should participate in programs to prevent teen pregnancy. This guide, funded by the California Wellness Foundation, fills that gap. The authors profile the male partners of teenage mothers to help planners understand the behaviors that need to be changed. They show planners how to get male teens involved through detailed descriptions of 24 of the nation's most promising prevention programs. Areas covered include the programs' funding and staffing, the barriers they have faced and overcome, and lessons they have learned about involving young men in their efforts.

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