No Decline Seen in Overall Tobacco Use between 2006-2009

January 6, 2011 -- A new report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, presents the results of the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) from 2000-2009.  The NYTS is a school-based survey which collects information on tobacco use and related behaviors among middle and high school students.  Participants responded to questions about their use of a range of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipes, bidis and kreteks, within the last 30 days.

Significant findings include:

• For 2009, 8.2% of middle school students and 23.9% of high school students reported current use of any tobacco product,
• Also for 2009, 5.2% of middle school students and 17.2% of high school students reported current use of cigarettes;
• From 2000 to 2009, among middle school students, declines were observed for current tobacco use (15.1% to 8.2%), current cigarette use (11.0% to 5.2%), and cigarette smoking experimentation (29.8% to 15.0%);
• Similarly, from 2000 to 2009, among high school students, declines were observed for current tobacco use (34.5% to 23.9%), current cigarette use (28.0% to 17.2%), and experimentation (39.4% to 30.1%);
• However, overall prevalence did not decrease from 2006 to 2009 for use of any tobacco product among either middle or high school students; and
•  Overall, no change in susceptibility to initiate cigarette smoking was observed for either group.

The lack of significant reduction in tobacco use between the shorter period of 2006 to 2009 demonstrates that while some declines were seen between 2000 and 2009, the downward trend in youth tobacco use is slowing. This trend is also supported by evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

The article recommends that in order to continue the decrease in tobacco use and susceptibility, restrictions on advertising, promotion, and availability of tobacco products to youths should be combined with full implementation of evidence-based, communitywide, comprehensive tobacco control policies, which include comprehensive tobacco-free school policies.

Because tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and more than 80% of current adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18, it is critical for those who work with students and schools to understand the tobacco-related behavior of school-aged youth.

For more information on tobacco use prevention through schools, visit The National Consortium for Tobacco Use Prevention through Schools website, or email schoolhealth@nsba.org.  A "Tobacco Prevention 101" packet of resources is available, and the NSBA online database also provides background information, sample policies, and web links to helpful resources