THE Youth Risk Behavior Survey is administered yearly by the Centers for Disease Control. Here are a few of the questions that were addressed to high school students in 2013.

During your life, how many times have you used any form of cocaine, including powder, crack, or freebase? (The student may choose from one to 40 times with all drug-related questions.)

During your life, how many times have you sniffed glue, breathed the contents of aerosol spray cans, or inhaled any paints or sprays to get high?

During your life, how many times have you used heroin (also called smack, junk, or China White)?

During your life, how many times have you used methamphetamines (also called speed, crystal, crank, or ice)?

During your life, how many times have you used ecstasy (also called MDMA)?

During your life, how many times have you taken steroid pills or shots without a doctor’s prescription?

During your life, how many times have you taken a prescription drug (such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, codeine, Adderall, Ritalin, or Xanax) without a doctor’s prescription?

Have you ever had sexual intercourse?

How old were you when you had sexual intercourse for the first time? (The choices include each year from 11 to 17)

During your life, with how many people have you had sexual intercourse? (The choices range from zero to “six or more people.)

During the past 3 months, with how many people did you have sexual intercours

Did you drink alcohol or use drugs before you had sexual intercourse the last time?

The last time you had sexual intercourse, did you or your partner use a condom?

The last time you had sexual intercourse, what one method did you or your partner use to prevent pregnancy? (Numerous forms of contraception are listed, with brand names when applicable.)

— Comments —

David Martin writes:

Many kids will see these questions and worry about all the catching up they have to do. By the way, isn’t it a microagression against lesbians to ask about condom use, and against all LGBTQ students to ask about birth control?

Mr. Martin adds:

Then again, it was extremely heteronormative of me to assume that condoms can only be used for contraceptive purposes. My use of the LGBTQ abbreviation was also problematic as bisexual, transgender, and questioning students might conceivably use birth control. I’m so sorry.

 Laura writes:

Many kids will see these questions and worry about all the catching up they have to do.

Of course! It’s like that drug program, DARE, which was suspected of actually increasing drug use because many students felt there was something wrong with them if they weren’t doing drugs. Imagine asking a 15-year-old if he has had intercourse with six or more people! Human robots wrote this survey. Or perhaps it is actually intended to sexualize students.

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