HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG CALIFORNIA COLLEGE-STUDENTS

Health risk behaviors among students attending 4-year colleges in Cali fornia were examined. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey for College Stude nts was administered in a two-stage (29 universities, 5,652 students) random sample. All campuses and 3,810 (69%) students participated in t he survey. in the 30 days preceding the survey, 36.7% of the students had binged at least once while drinking; 25.3% had driven after consum ing alcohol; 32% had ridden in a car with someone who had been drinkin g; 17.6% had used marijuana; and 6% had carried a knife, gun, or club. More than half of the students who were sexually active and not marri ed or living with a primary partner had not used a condom the last tim e they had sexual intercourse. Only 5% of regular bicycle riders alway s wore a helmet. Fewer than half (44%) reported aerobic physical activ ity on 3 or more of the preceding 7 days. The results of this study in dicate a substantial amount of serious, risky health behaviors among C alifornia college students.