Learning Objectives: More fully understand the necessity for developing tobacco prevention initiatives directed toward never smokers.
Abstract: This presentation will focus on never smokers; who they are, what profile they fit and what program implications we face in working with prevention for this group. Data for this presentation come from the 2000 National Youth tobacco Survey (NYTS). Funding for the NYTS was provided by the American Legacy Foundation and the survey was conducted by the CDC Foundation. The 2000 NYTS employed a three-stage cluster sample design to produce a nationally representative sample of public and private school students in grades 6-12. For the 2000 NYTS, 35,828 questionnaires were completed in 324 schools. Overall, two-thirds of middle school students and slightly over one-third of high school students had never smoked cigarettes. Of these never smokers, for both middle and high school students, 1 in 4 indicated that they were likely to initiate smoking during the next year (i.e., susceptible). Exposure to second-hand smoke was high among never smokers. Over half of middle and high school students who had never smoked had been in the same room with someone who was smoking cigarettes during the 7 days preceding the survey. Also, almost one-third had ridden in a car with someone who was smoking cigarettes during the 7 days preceding the survey. One in 10 never smokers had ever bought or received something with a tobacco company name or picture on it. Differences by gender, grade, and race/ethnicity will be examined during this presentation.
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