Ten Years of Conducting the New Jersey Youth Tobacco Survey: Trends Over Time

Introduction: The Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) was created to assist states in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programming initiatives to address tobacco use among middle- and high-school students. The purpose of the self-administered, paper-and-pencil New Jersey YTS is to gather information about students' attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge about tobacco use, intent to use, exposure to tobacco use, and exposure to tobacco marketing and advertising.

Key Points: The NJYTS was conducted in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2008. In 1999, 84 middle, 80 high schools participated; in 2001, 60 middle schools and 55 high schools participated; in 2004, 41 middle schools and 41 high schools participated; in 2006, 89 middle schools and 85 high schools participated; and it 2008 64 middle schools and 68 high schools participated. The reported current use of cigarettes has decreased from 18.9% in 1999 to 3.2% in 2006 for middle school students and from 38.9% in 1999 to 15.8% in 2006 for high school students. Cigar, bidi and smokeless tobacco use has remained stable over time, with slight increases realized in 2006. Reported exposure to secondhand smoke in the home or car has decreased over time.

Conclusions: Cigarette consumption has decreased over time, while cigar, bidi and smokeless tobacco use has remained stable and/or increased over time. Exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased over time, perhaps due to the enactment of the Smokefree Air Act. Continued surveillance remains of paramount importance to inform future programming initiatives to decrease consumption and exposure to all tobacco products.