Studies find LGBT youth more likely to use drugs, smoke, drink, engage in risky behavior
Recent studies show that homosexual youth are far more likely to use drugs, smoke, drink, and engage in risky , violent, and/or self-destructive behavior . Fifteen researchers poured over the U.S. Center for Disease Control 's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which "monitors six categories of priority health-related behaviors among youth and young adults" using school-based surveys. The researchers compared the behavior of homosexuals (and practicing bisexuals) to heterosexual high school youth from September 2014 to December 2015. The "risky behavior" included violence, smoking, alcohol and drug use, "unsafe" sex, poor diet, and physical inactivity. The conclusion ? "Significant health disparities exist between sexual minority and nonsexual minority youth." In fact, in nearly every category measured, gay, lesbian, and bisexual students were more likely than heterosexual students to engage in self-destructive behavio