1. PEI Youth Smoking Survey Results 2004-2013
Mary-Ann MacSwain
Chronic Disease Epidemiologist
March 2016

2. Youth Smoking Survey (YSS)
Classroom based, self report
Grade 6-12
53 of 61 target schools surveyed
2,500+ students

3. Student Smoking “Are you a smoker?”
A “smoker” is defined as someone who has smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime, and has smoked a minimum of one whole cigarette in the past 30 days

6. *Gr 6 & 7 data suppressed due to small numbers

8. Tried Smoking
“Have you ever tried cigarette smoking, even just a puff?”

15. Only 1 in 4 students from grades 6-12 reported being asked for ID when buying cigarettes in a store in the last 30 days.
Approximately 1 in 3 students who report usually buying their own cigarettes report being asked for ID in the last 30 days.

18. Smoking and Academic Achievement
School marks
Smokers
Non-smokers
Mostly A’s and B’s
44.0%
85.8%
Mostly B’s and C’s
45.4%
13.5%
Mostly lower than C’s
10.7%
0.7%
Which of the following best describes your marks during the past year?
(a) Mostly A’s and B’s (≥ 70%)
(b) Mostly B’s and C’s (50%-69%)
(c) Mostly lower than C’s (< 50%)

20. Smoking and Emotional Well Being
Smokers
Non-smokers
In general, I like the way I am.
66.5%
79.8%
When I do something, I do it well.
67.2%
78.3%
I like the way I look.
60.2%
70.4%
Choose the answer that describes how you feel about the following statements (True, Mostly True, Neutral, False, Mostly False):
In general, I like the way I am.
When I do something, I do it well.
I like the way I look.
*Proportion answering “True” or “Mostly True”

22. Conclusions Smoking rates have been fairly stable over time
More common among males and increases by grade
Slight drop over time in students trying smoking
Many students drinking when they first try smoking
Smoking behaviour of family and friends is strongly associated with a student’s smoking behaviour
Most HS students find it “easy” to obtain cigarettes
Relationship between smoking and bullying, emotional well being, academic achievement, and school connectedness

23. Acknowledgements
Dr. Carolyn Sanford Dr. Carol McClure Connie Cheverie Katarina Kujundzic