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Middle School Survey: Significant Differences in Beliefs, Influencess
The Ohio Department of Health conducted its third Ohio Youth Tobacco Survey (OTYS) in spring 2004, and compared middle school data (grades 6-8) from surveys in 2000, 2002 and 2004. The results of the 2004 OTYS were remarkably similar to those in 2002. The beliefs and social influences of smokers versus non-smokers remain the most significant differences.

Middle School Findings
- Doubled - the likelihood students will smoke when they live with a current tobacco user.
- Tripled - the smokeless tobacco rate for students living with a smokeless tobacco user.
- 4 times more likely to smoke - students who have close friends who smoke cigarettes.
- Smoking students are far more likely to possess tobacco promotional items than are non-smokers.
- Do smokers look cool and have more friends? Compared to non-smoking students, smokers think so at significantly higher rates.

Program parameters: There were 1,642 participants; 89.7% completed surveys. The respondents were 75.1% white, 51.3% male, 48.7% female, 33.4% in grade 6, 33.9% grade 7, 32.7% grade 8.

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