More Youth Using Tobacco Alternatives, Survey Finds

A state survey released this month found that the rate of youths who smoke cigarettes didn’t increase, but those who are using candy flavored or other alternative tobacco products did.

According to the Washington State Department of Health’s biannual Healthy Youth Survey, there were no significant increases in the rate of smokers among sixth-, eight-, 10^th-, and 12^th-graders who participated since a decade ago.

But cigarettes aside, another potential problem that the health department wants people to know about is the increase in “alternative” tobacco, and nicotine products, which are seemingly targeted at youth characteristics such as their candy flavor.

King County's results from the survey:

• In 2010, among students in 6^th, 8^th, 10^th, and 12^thgrades, the current cigarette use (smoked cigarettes during the past 30 days) prevalence were 1%, 4%, 8%, and 15% respectively.
• The statewide rates in these grades were higher at 2%, 6%, 12%, and 19% respectively.
• Current cigarette use appears to have peaked in 2008 and declined between 2008 and 2010, from 14% to 8% for grade 10, and from 19% to 15% for grade 12.
• In 2010, for students in 10^th and 12^th grades respectively, 3% and 6% were current frequent cigarette users, 4% and 6% used smokeless tobacco, and 7% and 14% smoked cigar during the previous 30 days.
• The prevalence of frequent cigarette use, cigar use, and smokeless tobacco use all declined between 2008 and 2010, but the changes in smokeless tobacco use were not statistically significant.

Other results:

-Alcohol is the primary drug of abuse among youth, but the numbers are declining. Since 2008, there are about 11,000 fewer youth drinking alcohol. The message about the risks of prescription drug abuse is starting to get out there — pain medicine abuse is down among 12^th graders.

-When students are depressed, abuse substances, are bullied and feel unsafe at school, they’re less likely to succeed academically. About seven percent of 10^th graders attempted suicide in the past year — down from the previous survey. Of 10^th graders surveyed in 2010, 85 percent said they felt safe at school.

 -About 31 percent of 10^th graders and 53 percent of 12^th graders in the state reported having ever had sexual intercourse. About eight percent of 10^th graders and 17 percent of 12^th graders reported they had four or more sexual partners. Among those who had ever had sexual intercourse, about 63 percent of 10^thgraders and 54 percent of 12^th graders reported using a condom the last time they had intercourse.