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Recent Declines in Teen Smoking Rates Are Slowing – Or Even Reversing

After years of dramatic declines in the number of teen smokers, experts say that decline might be reaching a plateau.

“[This change] obviously raises a lot of concern for us,” says Corinne Husten, M.D., the Acting Director with the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A casual survey of teenagers seems to confirm the news.

“Most of my friends smoke,” says 18-year-old Arien.

“More people doing it,” adds Travis, “more people asking you for a cigarette.”

“Everyone I know smokes or whatever,” explains 17-year-old Teri.

In fact, in a survey of 8th graders, 9-percent said they had smoked in the past month.
That’s an increase from last year.

Experts say a big reason for the change in smoking rates among teenagers is that less money has been spent on anti-smoking campaigns than in recent years – and that many kids aren’t getting that message.

“Right now only four states are funding their tobacco control programs at the minimum level recommended by the CDC,” explains Dr. Husten.

It’s all the more important, she says, that kids hear an anti-smoking message at home.

But often, that’s not the case.

“A lot of time parents I think have a laissez-faire attitude toward tobacco,” says Dr. Husten, “They say ‘well it’s not hard drugs, they’re not drinking and driving’. But actually tobacco is highly addictive; the kids experiment, they’re hooked on it before they even realize that, and then they spend their lives trying to stop.”

She says parents should talk regularly about the dangers of cigarettes, and “reinforcing that by saying we aren’t going to allow smoking in our home, we are going to go to smoke-free restaurants. So it’s not like the parent’s saying, well, this is bad for you but it’s okay for me. It’s saying this is something none of us should be doing.”

What We Need To Know

• Give your child detailed facts about cigarettes, such as the levels of cyanide and pesticides many cigarettes contain. (Centers For Disease Control)




• Help children critically analyze the glamorized messages they receive about tobacco in advertising and the movies. (American Cancer Society)




• Identify some of the reasons your teen might find cigarette-use appealing (e.g., to deal with stress, to feel accepted, to show their independence), and help them find healthier ways to deal with those feelings. (Centers for Disease Control)

Resources

• The American Legacy Foundation




• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids




• Foundation for a Smokefree America

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