HealthyHall-Smoking

Areas of Study Research Methods Data Tables Contact Us Site Map Related Links	2003 Safe & Drug-Free Schools Report - Smoking
	The research asked students to provide information about their own smoking practices, and their perceptions of smoking among their peers. The research shows that even through the 10^th grade, a majority of students never smoke, though close to one-third do, at least experimentally. However, by 10^th grade, the number of students who say they smoke everyday is approaching the average adult rate of smoking in Hall County, which is 22.8%. It should be noted that rounding of results to the nearest whole number means that some columns will not add up to 100%				Safe & Drug-Free Schools Report Table of Content
					Overview Highlights School Safety
	I smoke cigarettes...	5th Grade	8th Grade	10th Grade	Research Findings: Smoking Smokeless Tobacco Pot Illegal Drugs Huffing and Sniffing Alcohol
	Never	98%	83%	68%
	A few times a year	2%	9%	12%
	1-2 times a month	0%	0%	3%
	1-2 times a week	0%	1%	3%
	Everyday	0%	4%	14%

	When asked when they began to smoke, almost one in 10 tenth graders reported they began more than four years before. When tenth grade results are compared with others, it appears the middle school years are the prime years to begin experimenting with tobacco.
	I started smoking...	5th Grade	8th Grade	10th Grade
	Never	98%	85%	71%
	1 year ago	1%	7%	8%
	2-3 years ago (2 years for 5th graders)	0%	5%	12%
	3+ years ago (5th graders only)	0%	--	--
	4+ years ago	--	4%	9%
	It appears that most students have gotten the message about the dangers of smoking, though attitudes do change with age.
	I think smoking is...	5th Grade	8th Grade	10th Grade
	Very dangerous	92%	82%	74%
	Kinda dangerous	7%	15%	20%
	Pretty safe	0%	2%	5%
	Very safe	1%	1%	1%
	The survey attempted to measure perceptions about how widespread smoking is within each grade at school. It is interesting to note the similar responses of eighth and tenth graders who say “some kids smoke.” This may indicate that smoking patterns are largely established before tenth grade and the rate of smoking does not rise that much in the high school years. That only 1% said that “hardly any smoke” may contradict that conclusion, however.
	In my grade	5th Grade	8th Grade	10th Grade
	All kids smoke	0%	2%	2%
	Most kids smoke	1%	8%	41%
	Some kids smoke	8%	58%	56%
	Hardly any kids smoke	89%	32%	1%

Healthy Hall: A Community Partnership
c/o 1250 Limestone Parkway | Suite 115 | Gainesville, GA 30501 | 770-533-8099 | fax:770-533-8124