ANTI-SMOKING EFFORTS SPUR DROP AMONG TEENS

Since 1975, cigarettes unfortunately have consistently been the
substance used by the greatest number of high school students on a
daily basis. The good news is that smoking among high school students
has declined 40 percent since its peak in 1997, according to a
government report released this week.

The decrease was so dramatic that for the first time in more than a
decade, the percentage of high school smokers is lower than the
percentage of adult smokers, which was recognized as an especially
encouraging sign by the government.

The decline is attributed to a combination of stiff cigarette taxes,
effective educational programs in schools and persistent anti-tobacco
ad campaigns.

Even more encouraging is the fact that the across-the-board decline
includes students who have tried cigarettes only once in their lives
as well as those who smoked more than 20 days a month.

Today, about 22 percent, or one in five, of high school students
smoke. But the percentage is much lower than in 1997. In fact, it is
the lowest in a generation.

The price of cigarettes nearly doubled from that year to 2003. A pack
of cigarettes today costs an average of $4, according to the Campaign
for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Between 1997 and 2001, the average cost of cigarettes rose 70 percent
as extra taxes were added. In addition, the 1998 settlement of state
lawsuits against tobacco companies put restrictions on cigarette
advertising as well as provided millions of dollars for anti-smoking
programs.

Reports indicate that every day 3,000 young people in the U.S. become
regular smokers. Nearly nine of 10 adults who are daily smokers began
by 18. The harsh reality is that because of tobacco's highly addictive
nature, smoking is a bad habit from youth that tends to become a bad
habit in middle and old age.

Experts say that many people experiment with tobacco and/or alcohol
during their teen years. Reducing the number of potential teen smokers
now will reduce the number of adult smokers in the future.