The school-based 1993 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1993 National YRBS) was conducted by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The National YRBS is one component of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), an epidemiological surveillance system that was established by (CDC) to monitor the prevalence of major risk behaviors among American youth. The 1993 National YRBS focuses on priority health-risk behaviors established during youth that result in the most significant mortality, morbidity, disability, and social problems during both youth and adulthood. These include: behaviors that result in unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies; dietary behaviors; and physical activity. This data set contains information on 91 variables from a nationwide sample of 16,296 students in grades 9-12, who were surveyed during February through May 1993.

Results from the 1993 National YRBS will be used by CDC to: (1) monitor how priority health-risk behaviors among high school students (grades 9-12) increase, decrease, or remain the same over time; (2) evaluate the impact of broad national, state, and local efforts to prevent priority health-risk behaviors; and (3) monitor progress in achieving relevant national health objectives for the year 2000. Results also will be used to help focus programs and policies for comprehensive school health education on the behaviors that contribute most to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity.