Health risk and behaviour of out-of-school 16-year-olds in New South Wales

This study describes the health risks and health behaviour of a sample of 283 out-of-school 16-year-olds in New South Wales. We sampled study participants through the Commonwealth Employment Service offices in 1994 using a multistage sampling procedure. Of those surveyed, 129 responded to a letter inviting them to participate and 154 were recruited opportunistically. This paper describes the study methods and results for self-reported binge drinking, weekly use of tobacco and marijuana, sexual abuse, physical abuse, drink-driving, violence, and use of health services, by sex and method of recruitment. High rates of substance use were observed. Reported substance use in the out-of-school group was consistently higher than for 16-year-olds in school, except for binge drinking for girls recruited by letter. Of the out-of-school group, 34 per cent reported weekly use of tobacco, marijuana and also binge drinking. Boys were more likely to report drink-driving than girls (28 per cent and 13 per cent respectively). Having been in trouble with police ranged from 32 per cent for girls recruited by letter to 75 per cent for boys recruited opportunistically. A high proportion of girls reported sexual abuse (34 per cent of the 'letter' group and 41 per cent of the 'opportunistic' group). Overall, 87 per cent of respondents had used health services in the previous year. The results indicate that this is a disadvantaged group of young people who are an important target for health service provision and interventions.