New Report Shows that Cigarette Use among High School Students Has Stalled

July 10, 2008 - A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) shows that current cigarette use among high school students in the U.S. remained stable from 2003 to 2007.  This comes after a significant seven year decline - according to the report, in 1997, the prevalence of current cigarette use among high school students was 36.4%, and, in 2003, the prevalence was 21.9%.

The report shows that to achieve the national health objective for 2010 in reducing the prevalence of current cigarette use among high school students to 16% or less, the declines in current smoking observed during 1997-2003 must continue. 

Why Should Schools Prevent Tobacco Use among Students and Staff?

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and cigarette use is a major contributor to chronic diseases such as asthma – a leading cause of school absenteeism. 

The CDC has guidelines for schools to prevent tobacco use and addiction to help schools achieve health and educational goals.  To reduce exposure to tobacco at schools, the CDC recommends that all schools prohibit tobacco use by students, staff, parents, and visitors on all school premises, school vehicles, and at all school functions, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  The guidelines also recommend prohibiting all tobacco advertising on school property, at school functions, and in school publications.

For additional information on tobacco use prevention among youth, request a “Tobacco Use Prevention 101” packet from NSBA’s School Health Programs by clicking here.

Source:  “Cigarette Use Among High School Students – United States, 1991-2007,” MMWR Report, CDC, June 27, 2008 and “Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction,” MMWR, CDC, February 25, 1994.