Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Georgia youth tobacco survey results announced

LaGrange District youth smoking less but using smokeless tobacco more

A survey released today by the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) shows that compared to the national average Georgia has fewer high school students who smoke cigarettes, but more high school students who use smokeless tobacco, such as spit tobacco.

The survey also found that while 8.9 percent of middle school students and 23.7 percent of high school students smoke, nearly half report that they would like to quit.

In the LaGrange Health District, nearly 13 percent (12.8) of middle school students smoke cigarettes. This is the first time the state has had baseline data on youth tobacco use.

The Georgia Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), conducted in the fall of 2001, collected information regarding tobacco use among 2,800 middle and 2,900 high school students in Georgia. It asked questions such as tobacco prevalence, access, cessation, knowledge and attitudes, social influences, media and advertising influence and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and compared Georgia results with nationwide results.

"We expect that the results of this survey will help organizations and community groups create, implement, and evaluate youth tobacco use prevention programs," said Jim Martin, DHR commissioner.

The survey concluded that 9.5 percent of Georgia's high school students use smokeless tobacco, which is higher than the national average of 6.6 percent.

Other findings released today include:

70.2 percent of middle school and 56.5 percent of high school smokers live with a smoker.

14.5 percent of middle school students and 31.7 percent of high school students use some form of tobacco.

8.9 percent of middle school students and 23.7 percent of high school students currently smoke cigarettes.

18.3 percent of middle school and 47.1 percent of high school smokers purchase cigarettes at a gas station.

54.2 percent of middle school and 47.7 percent of high school smokers would like to quit smoking.

79.7 percent of middle school and 83.3 percent of high school smokers believe that tobacco is addictive.

44.9 percent of middle school and 27.8 percent of high school smokers think that cigarette smokers have more friends.

75 percent of middle school students and 81.2 percent of high school students had seen or heard commercials on tobacco use prevention in the 30 days preceding the survey.

"Study after study has shown that smoking is a health hazard and that secondhand smoke increases the frequency of childhood asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, colds and sore throats," said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H.,

director of the DHR's Division of Public Health. "Results from the survey show that students who smoke are significantly more likely than nonsmokers to live with a smoker."

As a follow-up to the baseline data, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Education, will conduct combined youth tobacco and risk behavior surveys in the fall of 2002 that will include a random sample of middle and high school students statewide.

"This is the first time we've been able to collect data on high school and middle school students and tobacco use, and we feel it's important to let Georgians know our children's attitudes towards tobacco," said NaTasha Howard, tobacco program coordinator for the LaGrange Health District. "Now that we have this information, we can further focus our efforts on informing our youth about the dangers of tobacco and encourage parents to set an example for their children by living healthy lifestyles."

UNITE Georgia is an initiative of the Tobacco Use Prevention Section (TUPS), DHR Division of Public Health, in partnership with the Georgia Cancer Coalition. In 1998, Georgia was awarded $4.8 billion as one of 46 states in a landmark settlement against major tobacco companies, receiving the first allocation of $150 million during the 2000 legislative session. UNITE Georgia, a state-supported and community-driven program, aims to create a better understanding and awareness of tobacco's effect on Georgia. For additional information, please visit www.unitegeorgia.com.