| As we
review the data from fiscal year 2003 through FY- 2006 most students in
grades six and eight do not smoke on a daily basis. However, many students are trying
cigarettes between the sixth and eighth grades. It is clear that a targeted intervention
needs to be conducted during these grades.
As students progress into grades 10 and 12, there's a continual
increase in the number of students who have tried cigarettes and who are
smoking on a daily basis. In general,
as we review the data in grades 10 and 12 from fiscal year 2003 through 2006,
the number of students who are smoking on a daily basis is decreasing. Further interventions need to be developed
for these target groups. A more striking statistic occurs when examining data within grades 8, 10, and 12 between fiscal years 2000 and FY-2006. In general, the number of students who report never smoking continues to increase in those grade groups. It is clear that some prevention programs are having an effect. Further efforts need to target students between grades 6 and 8. |