Youth Smoking Survey


  foundational_7a_youth_smoking_survey_feedback_report_manske_leatherdale.pdf (Size: 140.77 KB / Downloads: 0)


The Youth Smoking Survey is a Health Canada sponsored national survey of students in
grades 5 through 12. School-level feedback reports are being made available to all
participating schools. In addition to providing national data on youth smoking behaviours,
the feedback report for the Youth Smoking Survey is intended to assist community leaders
(educators, students, and public health workers) in planning interventions, by accurately
measuring youth smoking rates and behaviours at the school level. This report also provides
the most relevant and up-to-date literature and ideas on appropriate programs and services.
This survey was conducted by the Population Health Research Group at the University of
Waterloo. We are pleased to provide this report of results for AnyPlace School and thank
you for your participation in the 2006-07 school year.


Smoking is a School Issue

• Students who take up smoking show a decrease in academic achievement and
motivation.1
• Smoking is associated with an increased risk of dropping out of high school; smoking is
more predictive of dropping out than marijuana use or alcohol use.2
• Starting smoking at an early age is predictive of a number of other risk behaviours; these
include fighting, and drug use.3


Smoking is a Student Issue

• 85 percent of current smokers start
smoking by the age of 19.4
• The average age at which students
smoke their first whole cigarette is 11.5
• What starts as a bid for independence
quickly becomes dependence on
tobacco. Only 5% of students who
smoke think that they will be smoking
in 5 years; 5 years later, 80% of them
smoke heavily.


Peer and Family Influences

Students take up smoking for a variety of reasons. Peers and family members influence youth
smoking. These influences are sometimes direct (peer pressure) but more often indirect
(modelling). We asked students at your school a series of questions relating to peers and family.