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The major risks to health during the adolescent years are primarily behavioral. In recent years comprehensive, comparative youth risk data have not been available, as Spartanburg County school districts have chosen not to participate in the nationwide Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS), administered every two years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, in September 2010, Spartanburg County youth in 9th and 11th grades took part in the Communities That Care Youth Survey to assess youth attitude and risk behavior. A number of local funders sponsored the survey, and it was coordinated by Spartanburg Alcohol and drug Abuse Commission (SADAC). The survey was administered in high schools throughout the state, and 5,228 Spartanburg County youth participated.
General findings indicate that Spartanburg County youth have lower risk behaviors and risk attitudes as compared to the state aggregate. Selected results of the survey are reported below for Spartanburg County youth. Expanded data and statewide comparison can be found in the original report.
Risk Behaviors
Most Spartanburg County youth (65%) have never smoked tobacco, and most do not drink alcoholic beverages regularly (74.4%).
|
How many times in the past year have you been drunk or high at school?
|
|
0 occasions
|
1 or 2
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3 to 5
|
6 to 9
|
10 to 19
|
20 to 39
|
Total
|
|
4481
|
359
|
145
|
66
|
63
|
41
|
5155
|
|
86.9%
|
7.0%
|
2.8%
|
1.3%
|
1.2%
|
0.8%
|
100%
|
|
How frequently have you smoked cigarettes during the past 30 days?
|
|
Not at all
|
<1 per day
|
1-5 per day
|
½ pack per day
|
1 pack per day
|
1 ½ packs per day
|
2 packs per day
|
Total
|
|
4574
|
280
|
204
|
80
|
45
|
14
|
55
|
5252
|
|
87.1%
|
5.3%
|
3.9%
|
1.5%
|
0.9%
|
0.3%
|
1.0%
|
100%
|
|
How old were you when you first smoked marijuana?
|
|
Never
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≤10
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11 or 12
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13 or 14
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15 or 16
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≥17
|
Total
|
|
3766
|
136
|
298
|
571
|
421
|
18
|
5210
|
|
72.3%
|
2.6%
|
5.8%
|
11%
|
8.1%
|
0.3%
|
100%
|
|
On how many occasions, if any, have you used a prescription drug such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Xanax without a doctor’s prescription in your lifetime?
|
|
0
|
1 or 2
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3 to 5
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6 to 9
|
10 to 19
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20 to 39
|
40 +
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Total
|
|
4737
|
207
|
94
|
50
|
48
|
47
|
79
|
5262
|
|
90.0%
|
3.9%
|
1.8%
|
1.0%
|
0.9%
|
0.9%
|
1.5%
|
100%
|
|
How old were you when you began drinking alcoholic beverages regularly (at least once per month?)
|
|
Never
|
≤ 10
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11 or 12
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13 or 14
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15 or 16
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≥ 17
|
Total
|
|
3866
|
111
|
158
|
499
|
513
|
48
|
5195
|
|
74.4%
|
2.1%
|
3.0%
|
9.6%
|
9.9%
|
0.9%
|
100%
|
|
When you have attended a party with your friends where alcohol was available, how often did you leave with a driver who had been drinking or drive yourself home after drinking?
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Never attended a party with alcohol
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Never / almost never
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Sometimes
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Often
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All the time
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Total
|
|
3000
|
1317
|
448
|
139
|
144
|
5048
|
|
59.4%
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26.1%
|
8.9%
|
2.8%
|
2.9%
|
100%
|
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How frequently have you used smokeless tobacco products during the past 30 days?
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Never
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Once or twice
|
1-2 times per week
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About once per day
|
1+ times per day
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Total
|
|
4685
|
272
|
90
|
57
|
160
|
5264
|
|
89.0%
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5.2%
|
1.7%
|
1.1%
|
3.0%
|
100%
|
|
How many times in the past year have you stolen or tried to steal a motor vehicle, such as a car or a motorcycle?
|
|
0
|
1 or 2
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3 to 5
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6 to 9
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10 to 19
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20 to 39
|
Total
|
|
5054
|
81
|
36
|
20
|
7
|
11
|
5209
|
|
97.0%
|
1.6%
|
0.7%
|
0.4%
|
0.1%
|
0.2%
|
100%
|
|
How many times in the past year have you attacked someone with the idea of seriously hurting them?
|
|
0
|
1 or 2
|
3 to 5
|
6 to 9
|
10 to 19
|
20 to 39
|
Total
|
|
4367
|
552
|
151
|
53
|
36
|
11
|
5170
|
|
84.5%
|
10.7%
|
2.9%
|
1.0%
|
0.7%
|
0.2%
|
100%
|
|
How many times in the past year have you carried a handgun?
|
|
0
|
1 or 2
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3 to 5
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6 to 9
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10 to 19
|
20 to 39
|
40 +
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Total
|
|
4615
|
282
|
105
|
64
|
48
|
30
|
100
|
5244
|
|
88.0%
|
5.4%
|
2.0%
|
1.2%
|
0.9%
|
0.6%
|
1.9%
|
100%
|
|
Have you ever belonged to a gang?
|
|
No
|
Yes
|
Total
|
|
4825
|
412
|
5237
|
|
92.1%
|
7.9%
|
100%
|
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