The Florida Youth Survey (FYS) is a multi-agency youth health behavior surveillance program coordinated by the Florida Departments of Health, Children and Families, and Education. The FYS is a statewide, school-based survey effort which includes four survey instruments administered to Florida public middle and high school students: the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS), the High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), the Middle School Health Behavior Survey (MSHBS), and the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS). The FYTS tracks indicators of tobacco use, attitudes, and exposure to secondhand smoke and provides data for monitoring and evaluating tobacco use among youth. The YRBS and MSHBS monitor priority health-risk behaviors that contribute substantially to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults. The FYSAS assesses risk and protective factors for substance abuse, in addition to substance use prevalence, including alcohol, prescription and illicit drug use among youth.
Schools and classrooms are randomly selected and the survey responses are anonymous. The FYS is administered January through March every year, however, the YRBS and MSHBS are only administered during odd-numbered years and only collect state-level data. The FYTS and FYSAS collect state-level data during odd numbered years and county-level data during even numbered years.