Fewer South Dakota high school students report drinking and driving or riding with someone who has been drinking than did two years ago, according to the recently released 2007 South Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report.

The report presents data from the survey that students took in 2007. Students in grades nine through 12 at randomly selected public, private and Bureau of Indian Education schools participated.

"We hope school and community leaders will use this information to do program planning and implementation that will improve the health of their students," said April Hodges of the Department of Education's Coordinated School Health Program.

Holly VanDerbeek, program director for Youth & Family Services counseling center in Rapid City, said the survey has become the standard source when applying for grants.

"It's a valid instrument," she said. "It's proven itself time after time."

VanDerbeek said it is also the information her agency uses to determine what their prevention efforts will be.

"It has a good track record, and the information is very reliable," she said.

The survey assesses six health-risk behaviors that result in the greatest amount of illness, death and social problems among youths. The six behaviors include injuries, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, poor diet, physical inactivity and sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy.

In this year's survey, 55 percent of the students said they have tried cigarettes, down from 61 percent in 2005. Forty-six percent said they have had sexual intercourse, up from 44 percent in 2005. Thirty-four percent said they have used marijuana, down from 37 percent in 2005.

Other habits, including watching television and eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, remained relatively unchanged from the previous survey.

The surveys have shown that on an average school day, one in four high school students in South Dakota watch more than three hours of TV, and only 16 percent eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

The survey is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the South Dakota Departments of Education, Health and Human Services.

For a copy of the 2007 survey, go to www.doe.sd.gov. Click on "2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey" under "Recent Additions." Printed versions of the survey can also be ordered by calling 773-3261.

Results from the biannual Youth Risk Behavior Survey describe South Dakota high school students' behavior:

* 24 percent of students, during the past 30 days, rode in a vehicle with a driver who had been drinking alcohol (down from 32 percent in 2005).

* 13 percent of students, during the past 30 days, drove a vehicle when they had been drinking alcohol (down from 17 percent in 2005).

* 18 percent seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year (down from 19 percent in 2005).

* 55 percent have tried cigarettes (down from 61 percent in 2005).

* 34 percent have used marijuana (down from 37 percent in 2005).

* 5 percent have used methamphetamines (down from 7 percent in 2005).

* 46 percent have had sexual intercourse (up from 44 percent in 2005).

* On an average school day, 24 percent watched television for three or more hours (no significant change from 2005).

* 16 percent ate five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day during the past seven days (no significant change from 2005).

* 28 percent drank a can, bottle or glass of soda one or more times per day during the past seven days (new question).

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com