Each day, approximately 6,000 young people experiment with cigarettes, 50% of them become daily smokers. If current tobacco use patterns persist, an estimated 5 million people who were younger than 18 years old in 1995 will die prematurely from a smoking-related illness. The proportion of high school students who smoke increased from 28% in 1991 to 35% in 1995. In 1995, 16% of high school students were frequent smokers (smoked 20 out 30 days in the last month). White (non-Hispanic) high school students are twice as likely to smoke cigarettes than black students. More than 89 percent of smokers tried their first cigarette and before age of 19. The average age at which smokers try their first cigarette is 14 1/2 years; 25% of high school students smoked a whole cigarette before age 13. More than 11% of high school students (20% of males and 2% of females) use smokeless tobacco. In some states, more than 1 of every 3 male high school students use smokeless tobacco. Among high school seniors who use smokeless tobacco, almost 75% began before the 9th grade. Adolescents who use smokeless tobacco are more likely than nonusers to become cigarette smokers. Over 27% of high school students also reported having smoked a cigar in the past year. .
Several studies have found nicotine to be addictive in ways similar to heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. Because the typical tobacco user receives daily and repeated doses of nicotine, addiction is more common among tobacco users than among other drug users. Of all addictive behaviors, cigarette smoking is the one most likely to become established during adolescence. .
The younger people are when they start to smoke cigarettes, the more likely they are to become addicted to nicotine (84% of smokers aged 12-17). Young people who try to quit smoking suffer the same nicotine withdrawal symptoms as adults who try to quit. Only 5% of high school seniors who smoke daily think they will be smoking in 5 years, however, 75% will still be smoking 5 years later.
