Comparison of health risk behaviors between students in a regular high school and students in an alternative high school.

Prevalence of selected health risk behaviors of students attending an alternative high school (AHS) designed as a dropout prevention/dropout recovery high school was determined using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey also was administered to a sample of students attending a regular high school (RHS) in the same school district. A larger percentage of AHS students reported being involved in a physical fight the past year, having smoked at least one cigarette the past month, having drunk at least one drink on five or more occasions the past month, having drunk five or more drinks at least once the past month, having smoked marijuana at least once the past month, having used cocaine at least once the past month, and having ever had sexual intercourse. Results indicate a need for comprehensive health education/intervention programs to address the needs of youth in alternative school settings.