CDC Shrinks Teen Risk Report to 36 Pages as Full Data Show 13% Unprotected Sex Rate
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Sep 23
CDC Shrinks Teen Risk Report to 36 Pages as Full Data Show 13% Unprotected Sex Rate
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Sep 23
Summary
The CDC replaced its usual near-100-page youth risk survey report with a 36-page version centered on exercise, diet, sleep, digital behavior and mental health, while posting the full results online without fanfare.
That format shift tracks Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again agenda and foregrounded improvements such as persistent sadness falling to 33% in 2025 from 40% in 2023 and suicide attempts dropping to 6% from 9%.
The full dataset also showed riskier sexual behavior: unprotected heterosexual intercourse rose to just over 13% from just over 12%, while use of pills, IUDs and other contraceptives fell to just over 30% from nearly 33%.
Testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections dipped slightly, even as teens reported less sex overall; gay, lesbian and bisexual students were still three times more likely than heterosexual peers to have seriously considered suicide.
A CDC spokesperson did not explain why topics such as alcohol, drug use and sexual behavior were omitted from the main report or say whether a fuller publication will follow.
With teen suicidal thoughts dropping below pre-pandemic levels, what hidden shift in youth culture is suddenly driving this massive mental health recovery?
Teen mental health is improving overall, but why are girls and LGBTQ+ youth still trapped in a disproportionate cycle of severe distress?
While national teen sadness drops, are we ignoring a silent crisis among boys whose depression masquerades as anger and behavioral issues?