TEENAGE TOBACCO USE

Fact Sheet (Updated July, 1999)

Cigarette smoking during childhood and adolescence produces significant health problems among young people, including cough and phlegm production, an increase in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, decreased physical fitness, an unfavorable lipid profile, and potential retardation in the rate of lung growth and the level of maximum lung function. An estimated 430,700 Americans die each year from diseases caused by smoking. Smoking is responsible for an estimated one in five U.S. deaths and costs the U.S. at least $97.2 billion each year in health care costs and lost productivity.

• Each day, more than 3,000 teens start smoking regularly. That's more than one million annually.

• At least 4.5 million adolescents are current smokers.

• Approximately one-third of these children smokers will eventually die of smoking-related illnesses.

• 1,226,000 Americans under age 18 became daily smokers in 1996.

• Among 12th graders in 1998, 22.4% smoked cigarettes daily.

• According to a 1997 national survey of high school students, the overall prevalence of current cigarette use and frequent cigarette use were 36.4 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively.

• A 1997 survey reported that current cigar use among high school students was 22 percent.

• People who begin smoking at an early age are more likely to develop severe levels of nicotine addiction than those who start at a later age.

• Cigarette advertisements tend to emphasize youthful vigor, sexual attraction and independence themes, which appeal to teenagers and young adults struggling with these issues.

• Of adolescents who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, most of them report that they would like to quit, but are not able to do so.

• Peers, siblings, and friends are powerful influences. The most common situation for first trying a cigarette is with a friend who already smokes.

• A recent survey indicated that among students under 18 years old who were current smokers, 66.7 percent reported never being asked for proof of age when buying cigarettes in a store.

• Tobacco use primarily begins in early adolescence, typically by age 16; almost all first use occurs before the time of high school graduation.

• A 1997 survey identified that 9.3 percent of all high school students used smokeless tobacco. Although smokeless tobacco use previously was uncommon among adolescents, more older teens began using it between 1970 and 1985, at the same time that the smokeless tobacco industry was strengthening their marketing efforts.

• In 1996, an estimated six million 14-19 year-olds (26.7 percent of people in this age group) reported having smoked a cigar in the previous year. Of these, cigarette smokers as well as users of smokeless tobacco were more than three times as likely as non-tobacco users to report having smoked a cigar in the previous year.

• Tobacco use is associated with alcohol and illicit drug use, and acts as a "gateway drug."  It is generally the first drug used by young people who enter a sequence of drug use that can include tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and harder drugs. According to the 1994 Surgeon General's report, 12-17 year olds who reported having smoked in the past 30 days were three times more likely to use alcohol, eight times more likely to smoke marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine, within those past 30 days than those 12-17 year olds who had not smoked during that time.

• In August 1996, the Food and Drug Administration issued regulations to limit the accessibility and appeal of tobacco products to young people. The regulations include the following:
  • billboards and signs: billboards and signs limited to black-and-white text only, except in adult-only facilities; tobacco billboards banned within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds;
  • print ads: black-and-white text-only ads in publications whose youth readership is more than two million, or 15 percent of total readership, prohibited;
  • giveaways: no product giveaways with brand names or logos;
  • sponsorship: entertainment or sporting events sponsored only in the corporate name, not the brand name;
  • photo IDs: buyers under age 27 must produce photo identification;
  • education: industry-run educational campaign, including TV ads, about health risks;
  • samples: no free samples, single cigarette sales or packages of fewer than 20 cigarettes.
  • vending machines: cigarette vending machines limited to facilities where children are

• Tobacco use in adolescence is associated with a range of health-compromising behaviors, including being involved in fights, carrying weapons, engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, and using alcohol and other drugs.

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American Lung Association® Fact Sheet

Teenage Tobacco Use

July 1999 Update

Cigarette smoking during childhood and adolescence produces significant health problems among young people, including cough and phlegm production, an increase in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, decreased physical fitness, an unfavorable lipid profile, and potential retardation in the rate of lung growth and the level of maximum lung function.

An estimated 430,700 Americans die each year from diseases caused by smoking. Smoking is responsible for an estimated one in five U.S. deaths and costs the U.S. at least $97.2 billion each year in health care costs and lost productivity.

Each day, more than 3,000 teens start smoking regularly. That's more than one million annually.

At least 4.5 million adolescents are current smokers.

Approximately one-third of these children smokers will eventually die of smoking-related illnesses.

1,226,000 Americans under age 18 became daily smokers in 1996.

Among 12th graders in 1998, 22.4% smoked cigarettes daily.

According to a 1997 national survey of high school students, the overall prevalence of current cigarette use and frequent cigarette use were 36.4 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively.

A 1997 survey reported that current cigar use among high school students was 22 percent.

People who begin smoking at an early age are more likely to develop severe levels of nicotine addiction than those who start at a later age.

Cigarette advertisements tend to emphasize youthful vigor, sexual attraction and independence themes, which appeal to teenagers and young adults struggling with these issues.

Of adolescents who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, most of them report that they would like to quit, but are not able to do so.

Peers, siblings, and friends are powerful influences. The most common situation for first trying a cigarette is with a friend who already smokes.

A recent survey indicated that among students under 18 years old who were current smokers, 66.7 percent reported never being asked for proof of age when buying cigarettes in a store.

Tobacco use primarily begins in early adolescence, typically by age 16; almost all first use occurs before the time of high school graduation.

A 1997 survey identified that 9.3 percent of all high school students used smokeless tobacco on at least one of the 30 days before the survey. Although smokeless tobacco use previously was uncommon among adolescents, more older teens began using it between 1970 and 1985, at the same time that the smokeless tobacco industry was strengthening their marketing efforts.

In 1996, an estimated six million 14-19 year-olds (26.7 percent of people in this age group) reported having smoked a cigar in the previous year. Of these, cigarette smokers as well as users of smokeless tobacco were more than three times as likely as non-tobacco users to report having smoked a cigar in the previous year.

Tobacco use is associated with alcohol and illicit drug use, and acts as a "gateway drug."

It is generally the first drug used by young people who enter a sequence of drug use that can include tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and harder drugs. According to the 1994 Surgeon General's report, 12-17 year olds who reported having smoked in the past 30 days were three times more likely to use alcohol, eight times more likely to smoke marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine, within those past 30 days than those 12-17 year olds who had not smoked during that time.

In August 1996, the Food and Drug Administration issued regulations to limit the accessibility and appeal of tobacco products to young people. The regulations include the following:

billboards and signs: billboards and signs limited to black-and-white text only, except in adult-only facilities; tobacco billboards banned within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds;

print ads: black-and-white text-only ads in publications whose youth readership is more than two million, or 15 percent of total readership, prohibited;

giveaways: no product giveaways with brand names or logos;

sponsorship: entertainment or sporting events sponsored only in the corporate name, not the brand name;

photo IDs: buyers under age 27 must produce photo identification;

education: industry-run educational campaign, including TV ads, about health risks;

samples: no free samples, single cigarette sales or packages of fewer than 20 cigarettes.

vending machines: cigarette vending machines limited to facilities where children are not

Tobacco use in adolescence is associated with a range of health-compromising behaviors, including being involved in fights, carrying weapons, engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, and using alcohol and other drugs.

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