YRBS 2015 Results

Cigarette smoking among U.S. high school students at an all-time low, but e-cigarette use a concern

Cigarette smoking among high school students dropped to the lowest levels since the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) began in 1991, but the use of e-cigarettes among students poses new challenges according to the 2015 survey results released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although current cigarette use decreased significantly from 28 percent in 1991 to 11 percent in 2015, new data from the 2015 survey found that 24 percent of high school students reported using e-cigarettes during the past 30 days.

Among the key survey findings:

• The use of wireless devices while driving continues to put youth at risk
• The 2015 survey findings showed encouraging reductions in physical fighting among adolescents.
• Nationwide, the percentage of students who had not gone to school because of safety concerns is still too high.
•  Nationwide, 17 percent of students had taken prescription drugs (without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their life.
• The 2015 YRBS report shows mixed results regarding youth sexual risk behaviors. While teens are having less sex, condom use among currently sexually active students and HIV testing among all students has declined.
• The trends in obesity and sedentary related behaviors, such as drinking sugar-sweetened beverages and screen time, has varied in recent years.