Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students—United States, 2000–2009

August 27, 2010 / Vol. 59 / No. 33

MMWR Highlights

Middle School Students

• From 2000–2009, prevalence of current tobacco use and cigarette use declined for middle school students; however, no overall declines were noted from 2006–2009.
  • Current tobacco use decreased from 15.1% in 2000, 9.5% in 2006 and 8.2% in 2009.
  • Current cigarette use decreased from 11.0% in 2000, 6.3% in 2006, and 5.2% in 2009.
• From 2000–2009, experimentation with smoking declined (from 29.8% in 2000 to 15.0% in 2009).
• From 2000–2009, no change in susceptibility to initiate cigarette smoking was observed for middle school students overall.
  
  

• High School Students

  • From 2000–2009, prevalence of current tobacco use and cigarette use declined for high school students; however, no overall declines were noted from 2006–2009.
    • Current tobacco use decreased from 34.5% in 2000, 25.6% in 2006, and 23.9% in 2009.
    • Current cigarette use decreased from 28.0% in 2000, 19.8%, 2006, and 17.2% in 2009.
  • From 2000–2009, experimentation with smoking declined (from 39.4% in 2000 to 30.1% in 2009).
    
    
  • From 2000–2009, no change in susceptibility to initiate cigarette smoking was observed for high school students overall.
    
    

Background

• The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) includes measures on prevalence of youth tobacco use, smoking cessation, tobacco-related knowledge and attitudes, access to tobacco, media and advertising, and second-hand smoke exposure.
• NYTS has been conducted approximately every two years since 2000.
  
• NYTS is representative of middle and high school students in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.