This is the

first survey to provide comprehensive information on Georgia middle school

students. In the spring of 1999 approximately 2,000 students in grades

6-8 were asked 66 questions about their knowledge of secondhand smoke,

their exposure to tobacco advertising, and their ability to buy tobacco

products, as well as their use of tobacco.

The rate of

current cigarette use among Georgia 8th graders, 21 percent, is slightly

higher than the national average of 17 percent reported by a recent survey.

"This

information is vital to planning public awareness and prevention programs

statewide and in local communities," said Toomey. "We need to

reach all students and we must look at products beyond just cigarettes.

We know that 30,000 Georgia children begin smoking every year and 10,000

start using spit tobacco. Tobacco use is widespread in both rural and

urban areas, among minority as well as white students. It takes the form

of cigars, various kinds of cigarettes, and spit products such as chewing

tobacco."

Among other

findings of the GYTS:

Of the 55

percent of middle school students experimenting with tobacco products,

the highest rate was among Hispanics (68 percent).

Overall, 12

percent of middle school students have tried spit tobacco products. Within

that group, more Hispanics (21 percent) are experimenting than either

whites (15 percent) or blacks (6 percent).

Three out

of every 10 middle school students have tried cigars.

Eight percent

of Georgia's middle school students said they had smoked a cigar at least

once within the past 30 days, and over one in five of that number were

girls.

The GYTS is

one in a series to be released by the Tobacco Use Prevention Program of

the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the agency that conducted the

study. The Georgia Department of Education, other state agencies, county

health departments, and community groups helped collect the information.

Funding for the survey came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To obtain a

copy of the 1999 Georgia Youth Tobacco Survey, or for more information

about Georgia's Tobacco Use Prevention Program, call the Department of

Human Resources Division of Public Health Tobacco Use Prevention Unit

at 404-657-6649.