New State-by-State Report Shows a Significant Decrease in Adolescent Smoking

New State-by-State Report Shows a Significant Decrease in Adolescent Smoking

New State-by-State Report Shows a Significant Decrease in Adolescent Smoking During Past Decade

Current cigarette smoking among 12- to 17-year-olds fell significantly from 2002 to 2010 in 41 states, according to a report by SAMHSA. The report also showed that during the same period, adolescent perception of risk from cigarette smoking has remained unchanged in most states.

Adolescent cigarette use nationwide declined from 12.6 percent to 8.7 percent, but significant differences remained among states. For example, Wyoming had the Nation's highest rate of 13.5 percent—more than double the rate of 5.9 percent for Utah, the state with the Nation's lowest rate. The study defined current use as smoking in the past month.

The report, State Estimates of Adolescent Cigarette Use and Perceptions of Risk of Smoking: 2009 and 2010 [PDF - 397 KB], is based on findings from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports for the years 2002–2003 and 2009–2010.

"The Surgeon General's Report on Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults notes that smoking is the Nation's leading cause of preventable death," said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. "Although this report shows that considerable progress has been made in lowering adolescent cigarette smoking, the sad, unacceptable fact remains that in many states about 1 in 10 adolescents smoked cigarettes in the past month. The report also shows that we must collectively redouble our efforts to better educate adolescents about the risks of tobacco and continue to work with every state and community to promote effective tobacco use prevention and recovery programs."

Read the Full Press Release | View Full Report [PDF - 397 KB]

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Today Marks the 37th Annual Great American Smokeout

Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature and preventable death in the United States. Today, November 15, marks the 37th annual Great American Smokeout, a day the American Cancer Society encourages Americans to quit smoking or make a plan to quit. For more information on how to avoid or end tobacco use successfully, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' comprehensive tobacco prevention website at www.BeTobaccoFree.gov.