International homestay students exposed to major health risks, UBC study finds

According to research from the University of British Columbia, foreign homestay students who come to Canada to attend high school without their parents are exposed to major health risks, including smoking, drug use, and early sexual intercourse. The study found that East Asian homestay students are more likely to be smoking and using cocaine when compared to Canadian-born East Asian peers or immigrant teens living with their parents. The research also shows that homestay teen girls are more vulnerable than the other groups to being sexually abused or sexually exploited. Researchers are calling for greater oversight of the homestay industry, which has no requirements for screening or licensing homestay families. UBC News Release