ADOLESCENCE IS A TIME of great change, when young people take on new roles and responsibilities, renegotiate relationships with adults, peers, and the community, and experiment with things symbolic of adult life. These developmental tasks are often accompanied by the adoption of risk-taking behaviours that compromise health. Healthy risk-taking is a positive tool in an adolescent's life for discovering, developing, and consolidating his or her identity. 1 It is the extent to which an adolescent engages in health-risk behaviours, and the overall impact of these behaviours on personal health and development, that are of increasing public health concern. The research suggests that young people who participate in multiple risk-taking behaviours increase the chance of damaging their health.We review the prevalence of a range of health-risk behaviours and discuss challenges faced by general practitioners in assessing and treating those at risk. We also discuss a useful framework for identifying risk and protective factors, and present a psychosocial screening device. Health-risk behaviour and outcomesRisk behaviour has been defined as "behaviours that increase the likelihood of adverse physical, social, or psychological consequences" (M D Resnick, Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Professor of Public Health, University of Minnesota, personal communication). The first comprehensive survey of Australian women's health, the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, provides a snapshot of young women's health-risk behaviours. The survey investigated three age cohorts (young, mid-age and older), with women aged 18-23 years making up the young cohort. 2 A summary of findings from this and other studies on a range of health-risk behaviours is presented below.ABSTRACT ■ Healthy risk-taking is a normal part of adolescence.■ Young people who participate in multiple risk-taking increase the chance of damaging their health.■ There appears to be a growing range and prevalence of health-risk behaviours among young women, notably in their use of alcohol and marijuana. ■ Research suggests that such health-risk behaviours may be related to psychological factors such as stress and depression. ■ General practitioners have a central role in identifying and preventing health-risk behaviours and associated mental health problems in young people. ■ Comprehensive assessment includes a series of screening questions about home, education (or employment), activities, drugs, sexuality and suicide for young people, MJA 2003; 178: 601-604 known as the HEADSS technique. Kew, VIC.

The psychosocial care of children with cancer has received increasing and welcome emphasis in the medical literature. However, the current and future status of siblings of such patients has been an underestimated area of concern. We examine the general importance of sibling relationships and present the literature regarding siblings of paediatric oncology patients. Donors and recipients of bone marrow transplants are considered specifically. Preliminary results of original research, supported by available published studies, suggest important disturbances in the mental health of siblings. Implications for paediatricians and other health professionals as well as prevention and intervention strategies are indicated.

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Creating a brand image is a key part of marketing tobacco products. It makes subtle promotion of a product possible in spite of national and State barriers (such as advertising bans) through print advertising and televised coverage of international sponsored sporting events. This article argues for the introduction of mandatory generic packaging of all tobacco products as an essential component of a complete ban on tobacco advertising and promotion. The rationale for such a move is that tobacco should be treated as the toxic, addictive and ultimately lethal substance that it is, and responsible governments should not allow cleverly designed and enticing packaging to promote a product if they have decided to end promotion of that product.