Definition

Percentage of high school students (grade 9-12) who have used tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, bidis, electronic cigarettes) in the 30 days preceding the survey

Numerator

Number of high school students who have used tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, bidis, electronic cigarettes) in the 30 days preceding the survey

Denominator

Total number of high school student survey respondents

Why Is This Important?

Tobacco use is usually initiated during adolescence. More than 90% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age. Youth use of tobacco in any form is unsafe. Youth who use multiple tobacco products are at higher risk for developing nicotine dependence and might be more likely to continue using tobacco into adulthood.[http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm ^1^]

Healthy People Objective: Reduce tobacco use by adolescents in grades 9 through 12: Tobacco products (past month)

U.S. Target: 21.0 percent
State Target: 12.8 percent

Other Objectives

'''Revised Healthy New Jersey Objective TU-2''': Reduce current tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, bidis) by high school students (grade 9-12) to 12.8% among all students, 14.9% among Whites, 8.8% among Blacks, and 13.4% among Hispanics. '''Original Healthy New Jersey Objective TU-2''': Reduce current tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, bidis) by high school students (grade 9-12) to 20% among all students, 21.5% among Whites, 19.5% among Blacks, and 22.6% among Hispanics.

How Are We Doing?

The original Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets were met by all racial/ethnic groups by 2012, so revised targets were set. However, the availability of flavored tobacco products caused rates to rise soon after that and are now above the revised targets for all subgroups and above the original targets for all subgroups other than Blacks.

What Is Being Done?

The Office of Tobacco Control is spearheading work on statewide comprehensive tobacco free policies in schools. New Jersey Quit Services are accessible online and by phone. In July, 2017, a bill raising the minimum age for purchase and sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices from 19 to 21 was signed into law. [https://nj.gov/health/fhs/tobacco/regulations/]

Health Program Information

[https://nj.gov/health/fhs/tobacco/ NJDOH Office of Tobacco Control]