Tobacco Use by Young People:

• Each day in the United States, approximately 3,900 youths aged 12-17 try their first cigarette.¹
   
• If current patterns of smoking behaviors continue, an estimated 6.4 million of today’s children can be expected to die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.²
   
• Although the percentage of high school students who smoke has declined in recent years, rates remain high: 23% of high school students report current cigarette use (smoked cigarettes one or more of the 30 days preceding the survey).³
   
• Non-Hispanic white high school students (26%) are significantly more likely than black (13%) and Hispanic high school students (22%) to report current cigarette use.³
   
• Fifty-four percent of high school students have ever tried cigarette smoking (even one or two puffs).³
   
• Sixteen percent of high school students have smoked a whole cigarette before age 13.³
   
• Nine percent of high school students smoked cigarettes on 20 or more of the 30 days preceding the survey.³
   
• Eight percent of high school students used smokeless tobacco (14% males and 2% females), on one or more of the 30 days preceding the survey.³ Adolescents who use smokeless tobacco are more likely than nonusers to become cigarette smokers.⁴
   
• Fourteen percent of high school students smoked cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars on one or more of the 30 days preceding the survey.³

• Random Facts:
  • By smoking, the chance of death before the age of 65 are increased by 250 times.
  • Today 20 young people have taken their first cigarette, most likely not the last.
  • Nicotine, a chemical in cigarettes is one of the most addictive substances in the world.
  • In British Columbia, thousands die each year because of smoking.
  • If you can get past the age of 16 without smoking, chances are you will not smoke in your life.
  • You can get discolored fingers from smoking.

Sources:

• http://www.intheknowzone.com/tobacco/lterm.htm
• http://laurier.vsb.bc.ca/studentp/den/index.html
• http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/tobacco/facts.htm