This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.

Date: Thursday, April 2, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  CDC/Office on Smoking and Health
	  Llelwyn F. Grant and Sylvia Rosas (770) 488-5493
	  CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286

Overall smoking prevalence among high school students climbed by nearly a third during the last six years, with even sharper increases among African-American students, according to a new study released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The release of the new study, "Tobacco Use Among High School Students--United States, 1997," coincides with the observance of national Kick Butts Day. In observance of Kick Butts Day, members of the Clinton Administration are fanning out all across the country to join local Kick Butts events and to amplify President Clinton's call for the prompt enactment of comprehensive tobacco-control legislation to protect America's children.

"We're losing ground in the battle to protect our children," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala. "There is no excuse for delay. Congress must act promptly to enact comprehensive tobacco control legislation to protect our children."

The new data, reported from the 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, measured cigarette, smokeless tobacco, and cigar use among more than 16,000 U.S. students in grades 9 to 12. The study found that nearly half (48.2 percent) of male students and more than a third of female students reported using cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco in the past month.

Alarmingly, the report found that the consistent decline in smoking once seen among young African Americans has now reversed sharply in recent years. Among African American students, past-month cigarette smoking prevalence increased by an estimated 80 percent between 1991 (12.6 percent) and 1997 (22.7 percent).

Among white students the study found that more than 50 percent of males and about 40 percent of females reported using either cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco during the previous month.

"It is alarming that so many young people continue to find tobacco to be so appealing and socially acceptable," said Secretary Shalala. "We must step up our efforts to help young people recognize tobacco use for what it really is -- deadly and addicting."

"Although white (39.7 percent) and Hispanic (34.0 percent) students were still more likely to report past-month cigarette smoking than African American students, the increase in smoking among African American teenagers is particularly troubling," said Secretary Shalala. "Smoking prevalence doubled among young African American males and increased by 54 percent among African American females."

The study also estimates that overall spit tobacco use was much higher among male (15.8 percent) than female (1.5 percent) students. White male students (20.6 percent) were significantly more likely to use spit tobacco products than African American and Hispanic male and female high school students.

On Tuesday, Shalala joined officials of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to unveil new spit tobacco screening and cessation programs aimed at addicted ball players.

The study also found that the popularity of cigars is high among high school students, with cigar use surpassing smokeless tobacco use. About one in five students (22 percent) had used cigars in the past month -- about three in 10 male students (31.2 percent) and about one in ten females students (10.8 percent).

"Adult modeling has played a big role in encouraging spit tobacco and cigar use among young people," said CDC's (Acting) Director Claire V. Broome, M.D. Teenagers may view spit tobacco and cigars as a safe alternative to cigarettes, but that is far from the truth."

"This study underscores the need to establish aggressive tobacco prevention programs beginning in elementary school and continuing through high school," said Dr. Broome. "We must move as a Nation to put into place research-based prevention programs, which are most effective when combined with parent support, youth-oriented mass media campaigns, and community-based programs."

Through its "Research to Classrooms" projects, the CDC has identified two specific programs -- Life Skills Training and Project Towards No Tobacco Use -- proven to be effective in reducing teen tobacco use and addiction.

To obtain a copy of the 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey on "Tobacco Use Among High School Students--United States, 1997," contact Office on Smoking and Health at (770) 488-5705 (press 2 for publications), e-mail (tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov), or write the Office on Smoking and Health, CDC, Mailstop K-50, 4770 Buford Hwy., NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30341. The study is also available on the CDC Internet web site (www.cdc.gov.). For more information, contact Llelwyn Grant or Sylvia Rosas, Office on Smoking and Health, at (770) 488-5493.