A new study suggests that physicians are ignoring national health guidelines by failing to discuss high-risk behavioral issues like alcohol and other drug misuse and safety concerns with teens, the Center for the Advancement of Health reported Dec. 1.

Researchers administered a survey to 2,192 adolescents who were 12-17 years of age, asking whether a physician had discussed tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, use of seatbelts and helmets, violence, exercise, nutrition, and sexually transmitted diseases with them during recent physical exams.

"More that 80 percent of teens did not discuss safety issues like seatbelts and helmets, and at least 70 percent did not discuss substance use," said Sally Adams of the pediatrics department at the University of California at San Francisco, lead author of the study. Violence was the least discussed issue, while nutrition and exercise were discussed most often.

"If teens can get preventive care to avoid risky behavior, it may impact their health not only in adolescence, but also throughout their lifetime," Adams said.

The federal guidelines specifically state that physicians should "provide screening and guidance about high-risk health behaviors," noted Adams.

The study appeared online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.