CIGARETTE SMOKING
Cigarette smoking continued to decline among eighth,
tenth, and twelfth graders in 2001 as reported by
the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future
Study. All three grades showed a decrease from the
peak levels of 1996 and 1997 in current smoking, current
daily smoking, and current half-pack-a-day smoking.
While 12 percent, 21 percent, and 30 percent of eighth,
tenth, and twelfth graders, respectively, reported
smoking during the 30 days prior to the survey, these
figures represent a 42 percent, 30 percent, and 19
percent decrease in current smoking since the peak
levels in 1996 and 1997. The younger age groups have
shown the largest improvement over this time period.
Researchers speculate that these declines result from
an increase in the perceived risk and disapproval
of smoking, increases in cigarette price, and declining
accessibility to cigarettes. These improvements are
likely to have significant long-term health consequences
for this generation of adolescents.
The prevalence of smoking among teens increased substantially
between 1991 and 1996. These increases occurred in
virtually every sociodemographic group; among both
sexes, among those college-bound or not, among the
four regions of the country, among those living in
rural or urban areas, and among whites, blacks, and
Hispanics. While this increase occurred broadly, the
recent decline between 1996 and 2001 also occurred
within these same groups.
Though absolute rates of smoking have declined among
adolescents, certain subgroups are less likely to
smoke than others. Black adolescents are less likely
to smoke than whites or Hispanics. Those who will
attend college are less likely to smoke than those
who do not plan to complete college. Urban teens are
less likely to smoke than those living in non-urban
areas.
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