Introduction

Alarming Smoking

Statistics General Statistics
-each day, nearly 4,800 adolescents (aged 11-17) smoke their first cigarette -it is estimated that at least 4.5 million U.S. adolescents are cigarette smokers
-approximately 90 percent of smokers begin smoking before the age of 21
-in the US, 26.3 million men (27.6%) and 22.7 million women (22.1%) are smokers
-350,863 Americans have died prematurely this year from the effects of smoking

Racial Breakdown
-among non-Hispanic whites, 27.4% of men and 23.3% of women smoke - see Graph
-among non-Hispanic blacks, 32.1% of men and 22.4% of women smoke - see Graph
-among Hispanics, 26.2% of men and 14.3% of women smoke - see Graph
-among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 21.6% of men and 12.4% of women smoke - see Graph
-among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 37.9% of men and 31.3% of women smoke - see Graph

Educational Factor
Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those with 9-11 years of education (37.5%) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (14%). Data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse show that during 1988-96 among persons aged 12-17, the incidence of initiation of first use increased by 30% and of first daily use increased by 50%. Each day, more than 6,000 people under 18 try a cigarette, and half of these people become daily smokers. If trends continue, about 5 million people under 18 will eventually die from a smoking-related illness.