Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)

Cigarette Smoking Among High School Students—United States, 1991—2005

Lifetime cigarette use was stable during 1991–1999 and then declined significantly from 70.4% in 1999 to 54.3% in 2005. Lifetime cigarette is defined as having every tried cigarette smoking, even one or two puffs.
Current cigarette use increased from 27.5% in 1991 to 36.4 percent in 1997 and then declined significantly to 23.0% in 2005. Current cigarette use is defined as having smoked on one or more days of the 30 days preceding the survey.
Current frequent cigarette use, defined as smoking on at least 20 of the 30 days preceding the survey, increased from 12.7% in 1991 to 16.8% in 1999, and then declined significantly to 9.4% in 2005.
No statistically significant differences in lifetime, current, or current frequent cigarette use overall were detected between 2003 and 2005.
Comparisons of current cigarette use between 2003 and 2005 for all subgroups revealed no significant differences, except among black males, whose current cigarette use declined from 19.3% to 14%.
The national health objective for 2010 of reducing current smoking rates among high school students to 16% or less can be achieved only if the annual rate of decline observed during 1997–2003 resumes.

Page last reviewed 02/28/2007
Page last modified 02/28/2007