Tobacco Use and North Carolina Students

What is the problem? The 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among North Carolina 
high school students:

Not Available% ever tried cigarette smoking, even one or two puffs. 
25% smoked cigarettes during the past month. 
11% smoked cigarettes on 20 or more days during the past month. 
Not Available% smoked cigarettes on school property during the past month. 
52% tried to quit smoking cigarettes during the past year. (Footnote 1) 

Not Available% used smokeless tobacco during the past month. 
Not Available% used smokeless tobacco on school property during the past month. 
Not Available% smoked cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars during the past month.

Not Available% reported cigarette use, smokeless tobacco use, or cigar use during the past month.

What are the solutions? Better health education, partnerships between schools and the community, and healthier school environments.

What is the status? The 2004 School Health Profiles indicates that among North Carolina 
middle/junior and senior high schools:

Among schools that required health education, 48% required students to take two or more health education courses. 
69% taught all 17 critical tobacco use prevention topics in a required health education course.
29% had a lead health education teacher who received staff development on tobacco use 
prevention during the past two years.


67% had a school health committee or advisory group. 
75% provided families with information on the school's health education program. 
26% met with a parents' organization to discuss the school's health education program. 
46% invited family members to attend a health education class.



98% had a policy prohibiting tobacco use. 
Among schools that had a policy: 
32% had an "ideal" tobacco use prevention policy. (Footnote 2) 
46% required students who were caught smoking cigarettes to participate in an assistance, 
education, or cessation program. 
68% prohibited all tobacco advertising. (Footnote 3) 
52% provided referrals to tobacoo cessation programs for students. 
57% posted signs marking a tobacco-free school zone. (Footnote 4)



Footnotes: 
1. Among students who smoked cigarettes during the past month. 
2. Prohibited all tobacco use by students, faculty, staff, and visitors during school and 
nonschool hours in school buildings; on school grounds; in school buses or other vehicles used to transport students; and at off-campus school-sponsored events. 
3. In school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses or other vehicles, in school 
publications, and through sponsorship of school events and prohibited students from wearing 
tobacco brand-name apparel or carrying merchandise with tobacco company names, logos, or cartoon characters. 
4. A specified distance from school grounds where tobacco use by students, faculty and staff, and visitors is not allowed. 


Visit www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) for more information. 
Department of Health and Human Services 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention