April 12, 2012 |
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During the 7-year period between 2004 and 2010, the percentage of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reporting past month cigarette use decreased from 11.9 to 8.3 percent (Figure 1). Recent trends show that past month cigarette use was similar in 2008 (9.1 percent) and 2009 (8.9 percent), but decreased between 2008 and 2010 (from 9.1 to 8.3 percent).
Cigarette Use | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Past Month Use | 11.9% | 10.8% | 10.4% | 9.8% | 9.1% | 8.9% | 8.3% |
Less than Daily Use | 8.6% | 8.0% | 7.6% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 6.8% | 6.5% |
Daily Use | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 1.9% |
Source: 2004 to 2010 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Past month smokers can be divided into two groups—those who smoke daily and those who smoke less than daily. The percentage of adolescents who smoked daily in the past month decreased from 3.3 percent in 2004 to 2.0 percent in 2008, then remained relatively stable.
Between 2004 and 2010, the percentage of young adults aged 18 to 25 reporting past month cigarette use decreased from 39.5 to 34.2 percent (Figure 2). Recent trends show overall past month cigarette use was similar in 2008 (35.7 percent) and 2009 (35.8 percent), but decreased between 2008 and 2010 (from 35.7 to 34.2 percent).
Cigarette Use | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Past Month Use | 39.5% | 39.0% | 38.4% | 36.2% | 35.7% | 35.8% | 34.2% |
Less than Daily Use | 19.1% | 19.4% | 19.7% | 18.3% | 18.5% | 19.5% | 18.5% |
Daily Use | 20.4% | 19.5% | 18.7% | 17.8% | 17.2% | 16.3% | 15.8% |
Source: 2004 to 2010 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
The percentage of young adults who smoked daily in the past month decreased from 20.4 percent in 2004 to 17.2 percent in 2008, then declined further to 15.8 percent in 2010.
The number of cigarettes smoked per day among adolescent daily smokers remained relatively stable over time (Figure 3); however, changes were seen among 18- to 25-year-olds (Figure 4). Between 2004 and 2008, the percentage of daily smokers in this age group who smoked 26 or more cigarettes per day (about one and a half packs or more) remained relatively stable at about 5 to 6 percent. However, this percentage decreased to 4.0 percent in 2009 and 3.4 percent in 2010. On the other end of the spectrum, about 25 percent of daily smokers aged 18 to 25 smoked 5 or fewer cigarettes per day between 2004 and 2008; from 2008 to 2010, this percentage increased from 24.7 to 28.6 percent.
Number Smoked | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 or Less | 37.3% | 36.3% | 37.4% | 37.8% | 41.9% | 46.1% | 42.9% |
6 to 15 | 43.2% | 43.5% | 44.4% | 43.2% | 39.5% | 36.0% | 40.2% |
16 to 25 | 15.9% | 15.6% | 15.5% | 14.6% | 15.2% | 14.5% | 14.2% |
26 or More | 3.5% | 4.5% | 2.2% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 2.4% |
Source: 2004 to 2010 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Number Smoked | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 or Less | 24.4% | 22.4% | 24.1% | 25.3% | 24.7% | 27.3% | 28.6% |
6 to 15 | 40.6% | 40.6% | 41.4% | 41.5% | 43.1% | 42.9% | 43.5% |
16 to 25 | 28.9% | 31.8% | 28.5% | 27.9% | 26.1% | 25.7% | 24.3% |
26 or More | 6.0% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 4.0% | 3.4% |
Source: 2004 to 2010 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Reducing cigarette smoking is a major public health goal, and the findings in this report suggest that efforts to reduce cigarette use among adolescents and young adults are effective. The percentage of adolescents and young adults smoking cigarettes generally showed decreases over the 7-year period between 2004 and 2010, including decreases in more recent years between 2008 and 2010. There were also reductions in the percentage of young adults who reported smoking daily and in the numbers of cigarettes smoked by young adult daily users.
Despite prevention efforts, laws prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to persons younger than 18, and tax increases, this report shows that in 2010, 1 in 12 adolescents and 1 in 3 young adults smoked in the past month. Given the lifetime health and economic burden from cigarette use, these findings illustrate the need for ongoing efforts to reduce cigarette use and to monitor changes in use over time.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The combined 2004 to 2010 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 157,524 persons aged 12 to 17 and 158,794 persons aged 18 to 25. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2011). Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of national findings (NSDUH Series H-41, HHS Publication No. SMA 11-4658). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (formerly the Office of Applied Studies), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality are available online: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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This page was last updated on April 28, 2011. |