Labrador Inuit Health Commission studies teen health and behaviour

Information received from Labrador Inuit teens and their parents shows that parents play a large role in their children’s health and behaviour.

According to a 2000 survey on adolescent health and behaviour by the Labrador Inuit Health Commission, 62 per cent of Inuit youth are smokers, a rate similar to the percentage of adult smokers in Labrador Inuit communities; and 40 per cent of youth had consumed alcohol in the six months prior to the survey.

“Parental risk behaviours are strongly related to youth risk behaviours,” the commission concluded in a release.

Youth were found to start drinking at an earlier age. “We therefore have to further emphasize our alcohol prevention and treatment programs to younger age groups.”

The survey also found that 27 per cent used drugs in the six months prior to the survey, 8 per cent had sniffed gas, 30 per cent were sexually active and 14 per cent had damaged property.

The LIHC plans to use the report to develop and evaluate programs for youth and parents in Labrador Inuit communities.