Youth Tobacco Survey

Survey

The Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide states with the data needed to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive tobacco control programs that work to prevent young people from beginning tobacco use and help those who have already started using tobacco to quit.

Purpose

These data provide information on many key tobacco-related intermediate and long-term indicators, allowing states to measure progress toward state and national goals and objectives. For example, YTS data increase our understanding of the influence of pro-tobacco marketing, advertising, and products on young people and, conversely, of the effects of anti-tobacco campaigns working to counter them. Further, due to its methodology a state can directly compare its YTS data both to those collected in another state as well as national data.

Methods

The YTS collects data from young people in grades 6 through 12. Both public and private schools are eligible for inclusion (although private schools have not been included in recent YTS administrations). Schools are randomly selected with probability proportional to enrollment size, then classrooms are chosen at random within the selected schools, and all students in these selected classes are eligible to participate. Only one class period is required to administer the survey. The self-administered questionnaire is anonymous. States administer a core survey and have the option of adding questions to the survey.

Reports & Fact Sheets

The National YTS — http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/surveys/YTS/index.htm — was administered in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.

The Youth Tobacco Survey was conducted in Mississippi in Spring 1998, Spring 1999, Spring 2000,  Fall 2002, Fall 2003, Fall 2004, Fall 2006, and Spring 2008.

The Mississippi Youth Tobacco Survey, 1998-2009 (PDF 3.5 MB)

The Mississippi Youth Tobacco Survey, 1998-2008 (PDF 95KB)

Smoking is on the decrease among Mississippi youth. The prevalence of
current smokers in Mississippi decreased by 56.8% among public middle school students and decreased by 33.3% among public high school students.

Results from the Youth Tobacco Survey demonstrate substantial decreases in the prevalence of ever smoking and current smoking among middle school and high school students, as well as decreases in frequent smoking among high school students.

Charts

Percent of youth who ever smoked cigarettes, even one or two puffs

• Ever Youth Smokers in Mississippi – Public School Students (PDF, 33KB)
• Ever Youth Smokers in Mississippi – Private School Students (PDF, 32KB)

Percent of youth who smoked on one or more of the past 30 days

• Current Youth Smokers in Mississippi – Public School Students (PDF, 32KB)
• Current Youth Smokers in Mississippi- Private School Students (PDF, 32KB)

Percent of youth who smoked cigarettes 20+ days of the past 30 days

• Frequent Youth Smokers in Mississippi – Public School Students (PDF, 32KB)
• Frequent Youth Smokers in Mississippi- Private School Students (PDF, 32KB)