Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)

Prevalence

41.9% of students had ever smoked cigarettes (Male = 43.4%, Female = 40.4%)
19.8% currently use any tobacco product (Male = 22.6%, Female = 17.6%)
17.0% currently smoke cigarettes (Male = 19.1%, Female = 15.3%)
4.0% currently use other tobacco products (Male = 4.7%, Female = 3.2%)
21.5% of never smokers are likely to initiate smoking next year

Knowledge and Attitudes

23.1% think boys and 16.7% think girls who smoke have more friends
6.8% think boys and 5.5% think girls who smoke look more attractive

16.8% usually smoke at home
38.6% buy cigarettes in a store
88.5% who bought cigarettes in a store were NOT refused purchase because of their age

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

31.4% live in homes where others smoke in their presence
49.2% are around others who smoke in places outside their home
83.0% think smoking should be banned from public places
74.0% think smoke from others is harmful to them
34.6% have one or more parents who smoke
14.8% have most or all friends who smoke

Cessation - Current Smokers

70.5% want to stop smoking
76.9% tried to stop smoking during the past year
69.0% have ever received help to stop smoking

Media and Advertising

88.2% saw anti-smoking media messages, in the past 30 days
81.6% saw pro-cigarette ads on billboards, in the past 30 days
63.9% saw pro-cigarette ads in newspapers or magazines, in the past 30 days
5.0% have an object with a cigarette brand logo
8.4% were offered free cigarettes by a tobacco company representative

School

51.7% had been taught in class, during the past year, about the dangers of smoking
32.7% had discussed in class, during the past year, reasons why people their age smoke
44.8% had been taught in class, during the past year, the effects of tobacco use

Highlights

• 20% of students currently use any form of tobacco; 17% currently smoke cigarettes; 4% currently use some other form of tobacco.

• ETS exposure is high–approximately one third of the students live in homes where others smoke in their presence; half are exposed to smoke in public places; 3 in 10 have parents who smoke.

• Approximately three quarters of the students think smoke from others is harmful to them.

• Over 8 in 10 students think smoking in public places should be banned.

• Approximately 7 in 10 smokers want to stop smoking.

•  Approximately 9 in 10 students saw anti-smoking media messages in the past 30 days; 8 in 10 students saw pro-cigarette ads on billboards in the past 30 days.