2021 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey High School Results and 20 Comparative Tables for: Grades 7-8; American Indian Students on or near a Reservation; American Indian Students in Urban Schools; Nonpublic Accredited Schools; Alternative Schools; Students with Disabilities

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is an epidemiologic surveillance system that was established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help monitor the prevalence of behaviors that not only influence youth health, but also put youth at risk for the most significant health and social problems that can occur during adolescence and adulthood. The leading causes of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults in the United States are related to six categories of priority health-risk behaviors: (1) behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; (2) tobacco use; (3) alcohol and other drug use; (4) sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV infection; (5) unhealthy dietary behaviors; and (6) physical inactivity. To monitor priority health-risk behaviors in each of these six categories and obesity and asthma among youth and young adults, CDC developed the YRBS. Since 1991, the YRBS has been administered biennially by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. The purpose of the YRBS is to assist educators and health professionals in determining the prevalence of the health-risk behaviors among youth. This report describes the results of the survey and the methods used to conduct the survey. The results will be used to focus the continuing development of statewide comprehensive health education and to reduce those health behaviors that place Montana youth at risk.