Parent Resource Center
According to a recent study, over 8 percent of 8th graders, 14 percent of 10th graders and 21 percent of 12th graders had smoked a cigarette in the past 30 days.
As a parent, you have a lot of influence.
Research shows that strong parental support is significantly associated with reduced risk of smoking among youth. Parental support involves such things as emotional support, closeness and good communication-key elements in developing the relationship you want to have with your kids.
Source: Simantov, E., Schoen, C., and Klein, J.D. 2000. Health-Compromising Behaviors: Why Do Adolescents Smoke or Drink? Identifying Underlying Risk and Protective Factors. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 154:1025-1033.
Some try at a very early age.
Among high school students nationwide, 16% smoked a whole cigarette before the age of 13.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
Research shows that while some teenagers buy their own cigarettes (15%), most either borrow them (27%) or get someone else to buy them (29%).
According to a recent study, smoking rates among high school students are similar among girls and boys.
Research shows that kids are more likely to smoke if they have friends or relatives who smoke.
Kids who have friends that smoke are more often smokers themselves compared to kids whose friends do not smoke.
The current smoking rate is more than twice as high among kids whose parents smoke than among kids whose parents don't smoke.
The current smoking rate is more than four times as high among kids who have siblings that smoke compared to kids who have no siblings who smoke.
Kids who are involved in structured, adult-supervised after-school activities at least several days per week are less likely to smoke. These types of programs expose kids to positive influences and provide constructive alternatives to social interactions that may lead to smoking.
Source: Mott JA et al. After-school supervision and adolescent cigarette smoking: Contributions of the setting and intensity of after-school self-care. J. Behavioral Medicine. 22:1. 1999.
Research shows that there is a correlation between smoking and school performance.
"The onset of smoking has been shown repeatedly to be related to poor academic achievement. Relevant indicators of students' achievement include scholastic performance (grades), high school graduation, truancy rates, and future professional or educational aspirations."
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1994. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, p. 133.
Kids who enjoy school, take their homework seriously and have plans to go to college are less likely to smoke.
"Educational strategies, conducted in conjunction with community- and media-based activities, can postpone or prevent smoking onset in 20 to 40 percent of adolescents."
Source: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General. 2000.
