Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—Selected Steps Communities, 2005

Lifetime Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had ever smoked cigarettes, even one or two puffs (i.e., lifetime cigarette use) ranged from 38.7% to 65.5% (median: 51.1%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 35.3% to 64.9% (median: 49.9%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 41.9% to 69.3% (median: 51.8%).

Lifetime Daily Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had ever smoked at least one cigarette every day for 30 days (i.e., lifetime daily cigarette use) ranged from 5.1% to 17.2% (median: 11.2%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 5.3% to 19.9% (median: 9.2%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 4.5% to 18.3% (median: 11.8%).

Current Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had smoked cigarettes on >1 of the 30 days preceding the survey (i.e., current cigarette use) ranged from 9.2% to 26.5% (median: 17.1%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 6.9% to 24.4% (median: 15.3%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 9.7% to 33.4% (median: 15.4%).

Current Frequent Cigarette Use

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had smoked cigarettes on >20 of the 30 days preceding the survey (i.e., current frequent cigarette use) ranged from 1.9% to 11.3% (median: 5.9%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 1.6% to 12.2% (median: 4.8%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 1.8% to 12.5% (median: 7.2%).

Smoked >10 Cigarettes/Day

Across surveys, among students who reported current cigarette use, the overall percentage of students who had smoked >10 cigarettes/day on all days that they smoked ranged from 3.3% to 17.0% (median: 9.1%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 1.6% to 10.3% (median: 5.0%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 5.2% to 21.2% (median: 11.2%).

Tried to Quit Smoking Cigarettes

Across surveys, among students who reported current cigarette use, the overall percentage of students who had tried to quit smoking cigarettes during the 12 months preceding the survey ranged from 48.1% to 62.4% (median: 55.8%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 46.8% to 66.4% (median: 54.8%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 47.3% to 59.7% (median: 51.8%).

Bought Cigarettes in a Store or Gas Station

Across surveys, among students aged <18 years who reported current cigarette use, the overall percentage of students who usually obtained cigarettes by buying them in a store (e.g., a convenience store, supermarket, or discount store) or gas station during the 30 days preceding the survey ranged from 6.6% to 32.9% (median: 11.4%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 4.6% to 8.0% (median: 6.3%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 13.1% to 21.3% (median: 17.2%).

Smoked a Whole Cigarette Before Age 13 Years

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had smoked a whole cigarette for the first time before age 13 years ranged from 7.8% to 21.4% (median: 13.0%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 5.5% to 19.5% (median: 9.8%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 9.9% to 22.9% (median: 14.7%).

Smoked Cigarettes on School Property

Across surveys, the overall percentage of students who had smoked cigarettes on school property on >1 of the 30 days preceding the survey ranged from 2.2% to 8.7% (median: 4.7%).
Prevalence among female students ranged from 1.6% to 7.9% (median: 4.1%), and prevalence among male students ranged from 2.3% to 9.5% (median: 5.8%).

Page last reviewed 02/28/2007
Page last modified 02/28/2007