Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Cigarette Use among Middle School Students
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Why Is This Important?
Tobacco use is usually initiated during adolescence. Nearly 90% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age.[https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm ^1^] Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, leads to disease and disability, and harms nearly every organ of the body.[https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/index.htm ^2^]
Definition
Percentage of middle school (7th-8th grade) students who have used cigarettes on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey 2014 is the last year for which data are available.
Data Source
Youth Tobacco Survey, Office of Tobacco Control, New Jersey Department of Health(http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/tobacco/)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | Number of middle school student survey respondents who have used cigarettes on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey |
| Denominator: | Total number of middle school student survey respondents |
How Are We Doing?
Due to insufficient data, accomplishment of Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets can not be determined.
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/]
Other Objectives
'''Revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective TU-1c''': Reduce the proportion of middle school students (grades 7 to 8) who are current smokers (any use in past 30 days) to 1.0% among the total population, 0.7% among Whites, 0.4% among Blacks, 1.9% among Hispanics, and 0.3% among Asians. '''Original Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective TU-1c''': Reduce the proportion of middle school students (grades 7 to 8) who are current smokers (any use in past 30 days) to 3.9% among the total population, 4.2% among Whites, 2.8% among Blacks, 5.9% among Hispanics, and 1.1% among Asians.
Available Services
NJ Quitline: 1-866-NJ-STOPS
More Resources
1. [https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm Youth and Tobacco Use] 2. [https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/index.htm Smoking & Tobacco Use Fast Facts] CDC's Smoking & Tobacco Use Info: [http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/index.htm]
Health Program Information
[https://nj.gov/health/fhs/tobacco/ NJDOH Office of Tobacco Control]