Since fiscal year 2000, the percent to students reporting cigarette use in the past 30 days has decreased for grades six and eight.

However, use rates during the same period have increased in grades 10 and 12.  Further, it appears cigarette use actively begins between

grades eight and 10.  Although the number of non-users in grades six and eight is similar to state data, there are higher use rates in grades 10 and 12.

Thus, interventions need to begin by the eighth grade and additional interventions need to be implemented in grades 10 and 12.