* SMOKING STATISTICS:

Statistics indicate that smoking generally begins in youth. Apparently, only about half of the cigarettes smoked by youth are purchased illicitly.

Statistics indicate teen pregnancy and smoking is increasing. Furthermore, about 60% of US teens who are pregnant are smokers; the vast majority continuing smoking during their pregnancy.

In the United States alone, about 516 million packs of cigarettes were smoked by minors each year. Girls smoke about equally with boys.

Between 1991 and 1996 smoking increased from about 14.3% to about 21.0% among eight graders, and from about 20.8% to about 30.4% among tenth graders (see CDC links). Furthermore, there may be about twice the number of "occasional" youth smokers.

Epidemiological studies of smokers as young as age 5 are reported in tobacco control journals and other literature. A few examples are summarized below.

• Bewley, Halil, Snaith in England (~1971) studied 8,682 schoolchildren aged 10 and 11 years.
• Holland and Elliot in England (~1965-1966) studied nearly 20,000 13 and 14 year olds.
• Weiss et al., in Massachusetts (~1975) surveyed 650 children aged 5-9 years.
• Standhope and Prior, in New Zealand (~1972) 13-15 year olds.
• Charlton, in England (~1982) studied 15,709 students aged 8-19 years.
• Spinaci et al., in Italy (~1980-1981), studied 1,266 male and 1,119 female 6th graders mean age 11 years.

Those interested in smoking prevalence and epidemiology may wish to review the literature in this area. The few citations listed above are as examples only, and by no means the extent of the studies conducted in this area. Studies on the history of tobacco and smoking, alleged nicotine manipulation, anecdotal reports (such as of babies or toddlers being given puffs on lighted cigarettes to reduce crying), are all available in various journals and research reports.

* COMMENTARY:

Social "etiquette" today forces many "good" teens, and young ladies to smoke readily available legally manufactured (tobacco) cigarettes, yet hide their smoking activity from public scrutiny. Realistically, many persons including teens, expecting mothers, and children, will start or continue to smoke despite the known health risks. Presumably about half of the roughly 516 million packs of cigarettes smoked by US kids are provided to them by their parents or family. However, much of this smoking may now be going unseen and under-reported in our current social environment.

Smoking is "appealing" to many. It seems logical not to punish the "desire" or deny the "appeal". It is now widely accepted that teen pregnancy, STD's and other at-risk behaviors may be best prevented by not punishing or denying the "desire", but of reduction of risk. Perhaps, the message about smoking should be one of avoiding tobacco addiction, not prohibition of smoking. The manufacture of non-nicotine cigarettes is not only possible, the result would be far more palatable cigarettes without the "hook" of addiction, chronic abuse and resultant disease. Few new smokers find the thought of addiction appealing. They want to smoke largely because it's fun and sexy, even if said reason is consciously or socially denied. However, looking at social groups in which smoking is not viewed as negative, family and child smoking is often popular and socially acceptable; analogous to social nudism.

Appaently, so-called government "tobacco control" and the tobacco company efforts seem to be taking a "prohibitionist" approach to youth smoking, which would unlikely be effective, as opposed to one of nicotine regulation. Even with the FDA's stamp of approval that nicotine is a drug, nicotine regulation and availability of non-nicotine tobacco cigarettes seems to have gotten nowhere.

Allegedly, the tobacco companies have the ability to manipulate nicotine delivery and camouflage it's harsh corrosive taste. Supposedly, mild low "yield" cigarettes actually are quite addictive and may be targeted to new "uptake phase" smokers. None the less, the ability to inexpensively manufacture nicotine-free tobacco cigarettes exists and even a "No Nic" cigarette was test marketed by a major tobacco company. Perhaps, requiring the sale of a so-called "No Nic" cigarettes should be required of cigarette manufacturers for those interested in "social" smoking only; which may include most beginning smokers. But that doesn't sell a lot of cigarettes which is why such an approach is unlikely to be embraced. As long as addictive cigarettes are what "good" kids get their hands on, addiction and chronic smoking related diseases will continue.

It's not a question of if kids will smoke, it's a question of what they will smoke.

*DISCLAIMER:

The statistics and commentary above may not reflect the opinions of Girl Smoke and are not guaranteed as to accuracy.