Importance of Youth Risk Behavior Data

A significant challenge our state has been facing over the last several years is available and accurate data on youth risk behaviors. South Dakota has participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey annually. Unfortunately, challenges arose during the data collection process for our state’s 2017 data point and a sufficient sample was not attained in order to release results. The South Dakota Department of Health along with many others are working hard to remedy this issue. The attached link summarizes the issue and ongoing efforts to address this issue. As I said when contacted for this story this data gap “prevents identification of any emerging trends of changes in student health and substance-use risk behaviors.”

https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/risky-youth-behaviors-harder-to-track-in-s-d/