How common is smoking among teenagers?

According to the Health Promotion Unit, in 1993 more than one quarter (27%) of those aged 15-24 years smoked regularly, which is almost identical to the 28% smoking rate in the population as a whole.

In 1988 one study found that 57% of Irish adolescent boys under 18 years were smokers, according to the World Health Organisation definition. In another study two-thirds of young people in Dublin had smoked at some point. In Britain, more adolescent girls than boys now smoke and this is probably the case in Ireland as well.

The fall in the total number of smokers is caused by more smokers giving up rather than less young people starting.

It is estimated that in the UK in 1993, the cigarette industry spent £100 million on promotional activities while the government spent £10 million on anti-smoking measures. Revenue from cigarette sales to under 16 year olds, (which are illegal), was estimated to be worth £108 million per year in tax receipts. The discrepancies and disincentives for tackling the problem are obvious. The Irish figures are not thought to be proportionately different, except that taxes are higher and health promotion spending is lower.

Smoking is by far the greatest cause of death in developed countries. It poses a big risk, especially among those who start smoking cigarettes regularly in their teenage years. If they keep smoking steadily, about half will eventually be killed by tobacco (about one quarter in old age plus one quarter in middle age).

Those killed by tobacco in middle age (35-69 years) lose an average of 20-25 years on non-smoker life expectancy and most of those killed by tobacco are not particularly ‘heavy’ smokers (but most did start in their teenage years).

The earlier you start smoking the less likely you are to give up. Those who do not smoke regularly in their teens are much less likely to do so as an adult. Those teenagers who smoke regularly are also more likely to drink alcohol regularly.

Stopping smoking works. Even in middle age, stopping before you get cancer or some other disease reduces most of the later excess risk of death from tobacco, but the benefits of stopping at an earlier age are even greater.

Post by Goh