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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ralph S. Caraballo, PhD, Office on Smoking and Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy. N.E., Mailstop K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341, 7704885732, rfc8@cdc.gov and Kat Jackson, MPH, RTI, 3005 Chamblee-Tucker Rd, Office 2062, Atlanta, GA 30341.

The onset of cigarette smoking occurs primarily in early adolescence, a developmental stage that is several decades removed from the death and disability that are associated with smoking in adulthood. It has been said that the earlier young people begin using cigarettes, the more heavily they are likely to use it as adults and the less likely they are to quit.

Using data from the 2004 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), we looked at indicators of nicotine addiction of 1,490 middle school students and 2,550 high school students who were current smokers. By the time of the presentation, we will have more in depth analyses of the recently collected 2004 NYTS data.

Data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) were analyzed. Variables examined include, but are not limited to, smoking stage (experimentation, established non-daily smoker, established daily smoker), smoking intensity, perceived ability to quit, and restlessness and cravings after not smoking.

Detailed results are not yet available. At this time, it appears smoking duration (regardless of age of initiation) is the key factor on adolescents who are addicted to nicotine. These plus upcoming findings will provide a distinct national picture of youth nicotine addiction and suggest a need to expand efforts to prevent smoking initiation and to make effective cessation programs available to children and adolescents.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Identify percent of middle and high school students who are addicted to nicotine.
• Identify disparities in nicotine addiction by race and ethnicity (white, black, Hispanic).
• Understand the importance of the duration of cigarette smoking as an important indicator of nicotine addiction.

Keywords: Adolescents, Smoking

Related Web page: www.cdc/gov/tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered