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Youth Risk Behavior
Surveillance — United States, 1995
The September 27, 1996, issue of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance
Summaries, "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance- United States, 1995," contains new
national and state-specific data related to tobacco use among high school students.
These data supplement national survey data that were
published in a May 24, 1996, MMWR article, "Tobacco Use and Usual Source of
Cigarettes Among High School Students- United States, 1995." The new report
summarizes the results from CDC's 1995 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey,
as well as from 35 selected state and 16 local school-based surveys conducted by state and
local agencies. The study shows that nationally more than one-third of high school
students (34.8%) had smoked cigarettes during the 30 days preceding the survey, and that
state prevalences varied nearly fivefold from 8.8% to 43.0% and local prevalences ranging
from 17.8% to 30.3%.
The study also found the following:
- More than seven in 10 high school students (71.3%) had ever tried cigarette
smoking. State prevalences ranged from 45.2% to 84.9%, and local prevalences ranged from
59.4% to 75.2%.
- More than one in ten high school students (11.4%) had used smokeless tobacco
during the 30 days preceding the survey; nearly one in five male students (19.7%) had used
smokeless tobacco during the past month. State prevalences for students varied eightfold
from 3.0% to 25.1%, and local prevalences varied fivefold from 1.3% to 6.7%.
- More than three-fourths of underage smokers (77.5%) were not asked to show
proof of age when they bought cigarettes in stores. State prevalences ranged from 55.3% to
82.9%, and local prevalences ranged from 59.8% to 92.6%.
- One fourth (24.9%) of students had smoked a whole cigarette before 13 years
of age. State prevalences varied threefold from 10.6% to 33.2%, and local prevalences
ranged from 15.7% to 26.1%.
- Sixteen percent of students had smoked cigarettes on school property during
the 30 days preceding the survey. State prevalences varied fourfold from 5.8% to 22.9%,
and local prevalences varied threefold from 6.4% to 18.8%.
Special Note: Since 1991, smoking has
increased among all teens, regardless of age, sex, or race. Between 1991 and 1995, the
proportion of high school students who smoke increased from slightly more than one-quarter
to nearly one-third. Today, nearly 40% of white female high school students smoke. When
cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use are combined, the proportion of white male
high school students who used tobacco was 44%. Even among African American youth, whose
low smoking rates have been a public health success story, we are losing ground. Smoking
is now increasing the fastest among young African American males, and prevalences nearly
doubled between 1991 and 1995.
Youth Risk Behavior
Surveillance—United States, 1995
45(SS-4);1-83, September 27, 1996
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