Spokane Counts 2011 - Smokers (Youth)

Smokers (Youth)

Health Behavior

Indicator: Smokers (Youth)

Definition: Percent of youth in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 who smoked one or more cigarettes in the last 30 days.

Why is this important: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death. The majority of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18.

Where are we: In 2010 in Spokane County, one in ten adolescents were current smokers. From 2006 to 2010, the proportion of adolescents who smoked remained stable. The proportion of youth smokers in Spokane County was significantly higher than that of Washington State in 2010, but lower than that of the U.S. in 2009.

Health Disparities:

Among youth in Spokane County in 2010:

Smoking increased as age increased.
Compared to Whites, Blacks were more likely to smoke and Asian/Pacific Islanders were less likely to smoke.
Smoking decreased as maternal education increased.

There was no difference in smoking between males and females.

Additional Information: Other forms of tobacco can also have negative health effects. Among youth, using chewing tobacco and smoking cigars increases as age increases.

Alternative tobacco use in the last 30 days, Spokane County, 2010

	6th grade	8th grade	10th grade	12th grade	Total
Smokeless tobacco	1.1%	3.9%	7.6%	10.1%	5.3%
Cigars	Not asked	5.0%	12.4%	20.0%	11.1%

(click to enlarge)

	Data Source	HYS, 2010 (grades 6,8,10,12)

Geography	Spokane County	11.9% (11.2-12.5)
	WA	9.7% (9.4-10.0)
	U.S.	19.5%

	Trend	06-10 No Trend

Age	Youth
	6th grade	2.0% (1.4-2.9)
	8th grade	8.6% (7.7-9.6)
	10th grade	16.8% (15.4-18.4)
	12th grade	23.4% (21.7-25.3)

Sex	Male	11.8% (10.9-12.7)
	Female	11.9% (11.1-12.9)

Race	White	12.0% (11.3-12.8)
	Black	18.3% (14.2-23.2)
	NAAN	11.9% (8.9-15.7)
	API	8.7% (6.2-11.9)

Education*	< High school	24.1% (20.9-27.7)
	High school	18.5% (16.6-20.6)
	Some college	15.4% (13.9-17.1)
	College graduate	10.4% (9.3-11.7)

* Education reflects the mother's highest education level

Data Source: Health Youth Survey. Washington State Department of Health. Calculations and presentation of data by Spokane Regional Health District, Community Health Assessment.

Spokane Regional Health District · Community Health Assessment · 1101 W College Ave, Room 360, Spokane, WA 99201
509.323.2853 | FAX 509.232.1706 | TDD 509.324.1464 · www.srhd.org/spokanecounts