Center for Health Data and Analysis

Rhode Island Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS)

The Center for Health Data and Analysis conducts the YTS among Rhode Island public school students in grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. The survey collects in depth information regarding tobacco use among adolescents, including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars and pipes, and unconventional cigarettes (bidis and kreteks). The YTS also measures exposure to second hand tobacco smoke and monitors knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding tobacco use, health effects, and tobacco advertising.

With technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 40 states and U.S. territories have administered the YTS. Rhode Island data which are representative of the entire population of public middle school and public high school students are available for 2001. The Center for Health Data and Analysis plans to administer the survey again in 2003 and every other year thereafter. In addition, CDC administered a separate, national sample of the YTS during the 1998-1999 and the 2000-2001 academic years.

Statistical reports summarizing the findings from the 2001 Rhode Island YTS will be available by April 2002. National YTS data as well as data from other participating states are available on the CDC website.