The 1992 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was conducted as a followback to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 1992 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The YRBS was sponsored by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This survey is part of a larger research project, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which was developed to monitor the major risk behaviors of American youth.

The 1992 YRBS interview focused on selected types of health behaviors among youth that could lead to a greater risk for morbidity and mortality. The following substantive areas were covered in the interview: injury risks, including physical fights and weapon use; cigarette, tobacco, or snuff use; alcohol and illegal drug use; AIDS/HIV education; drug use risks; diet and nutrition; physical activities; stays away from home; and sexual intercourse.

Data collection began in April 1992, approximately two months after the original NHIS interview, and continued through March 1993. A sample of children 12 to 21 years of age was drawn from the families who were interviewed for the 1992 NHIS. Within each family, one child who was attending school and up to two children not in school or whose in-school status was unknown were selected for the YRBS sample. Of the 13,789 youth identified in this manner, YRBS interviews were completed for 10,645 children. The final survey response rate was 77.2%.