Do a lot of teens smoke?

Teen smoking statistics can be shocking, especially to parents. Every day, almost 6,000 teens start smoking. Of those, about 3000 will become regular smokers as adults. Estimates say that more than four million teens in the US admit to smoking cigarettes regularly. In the 1990s smoking rates among teenagers declined rapidly but they have begun to climb again in recent years. Parents blame slick advertising campaigns by cigarette companies that target teens by using musicians and pop culture images to portray smoking as cool and trendy.

What are some statistics about teenage smoking?

Statistics for the rates of teenage smokers are staggering. Approximately 90 percent of smokers begin smoking before the age of 21. Clearly, most adults who smoke start smoking in their teen years. Because of this, programs aimed at educating teens and convincing them not to smoke are crucial. Parents need to sit down with their teen and adolescent children and talk to them about the dangers of smoking and statistics related to teen smoking. Sometimes giving teens the facts about the health risks of smoking isn’t enough to convince them not to smoke. If giving the facts were enough, then the trend of teenagers smoking and the high teen smoking statistics would start to decline more rapidly than they are. Nearly 20 percent of 12th graders, 12 percent of 10th graders and 5.5 percent of 8th graders smoke cigarettes daily. It can be just as hard or harder for teens to quit smoking than for adults to quit. Tobacco use in teens 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. If current tobacco use patterns continue, an estimated 6.4 million children will die prematurely from a smoking-related disease. In 2003, white teens were statistically more likely to smoke than other races.

How can I find statistics on teenagers who smoke?

The best way to find statistics on teen smokers is to look on the Internet. There are many reliable medical websites that document teen smoking statistics. There are also sites that can help parents practice talking to their kids about smoking and help them know which statistics about teens smoking cigarettes will be most effective in helping convince their kids not to smoke. If your teen already smokes, you can find statistics and programs to help teens quit smoking on the Internet too.