Smoking, Drinking and Meth Use Down in Montana High School Students: Survey

A new survey shows that the percentage of Montana high school students who smoke, drink and use drugs continues to decrease. The survey also reveals that Montana students’ obesity rates and time in front of computer screens are increasing. The survey asked high school students about their unhealthy habits and healthy habits every two year.

Around 4,500 students in 49 public schools took the survey last February. The results found that 13.1% of students had smoked within the previous month, down from 30.7% in 1993. Daily smokers fell from 9% to 2.2% of responding students.

Just over a third of students said they had an alcoholic drink within the past month, down from 55.7% in 1993. About 30% said they had never had a drink, up from 17% in 1993. Only 3% of students report having ever used meth, down from 13.5% in 1999; 8% reported having ever used an inhalant, down from 20.9% in 1993.

The percentage of students who are overweight increased from 10.7% in 1999 to 15% this year and the percentage of obese students - those who are above the 95th percentile for body mass index - increased from 6.1% in 1999 to 10.3%.



Source-Medindia