HEALTH RISKS AND BEHAVIOR OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL 16-YEAR-OLDS IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES

This study describes the health risks and health behaviour of a sample of 283 out-of-school 16-year-olds in New South Wales. We sampled stud y participants through the Commonwealth Employment Service offices in 1994 using a multistage sampling procedure. Of those surveyed, 129 res ponded to a letter inviting them to participate and 154 were recruited opportunistically. This paper describes the study methods and results for self-reported binge drinking, weekly use of tobacco and marijuana , sexual abuse, physical abuse, drink-driving, violence, and use of he alth services, by sex and method of recruitment. High rates of substan ce use were observed, Reported substance use in the out-of-school grou p was consistently higher than for 16-year-olds in school, except for binge drinking for girls recruited by letter. Of the out-of-school gro up, 34 per cent reported weekly use of tobacco, marijuana and also bin ge drinking. Boys were more likely to report drink-driving than girls (28 per cent and 13 per cent respectively). Having been in trouble wit h police ranged from 32 per cent for girls recruited by letter to 75 p er cent for boys recruited opportunistically. A high proportion of gir l reported sexual abuse (34 per cent of the 'letter' group and 41 per cent of the 'opportunistic' group). Overall, 87 per cent of respondent s had used health services in the previous year, The results indicate that this is a disadvantaged group of young people who are an importan t target for health service provision and interventions.