MORE TEENAGERS SMOKING: STUDY

Fewer Ontario adults are smoking today than four years ago, but young people
seem to be picking up the tobacco slack, a new study shows.

About 21 per cent of Ontario adults smoke daily, a significant decrease from
27 per cent in 1995, says the study by the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit at
the University of Toronto.

But more young people are smoking. The number of students surveyed in Grades
7, 9, 11 and the Ontario Academic Credit year who reported smoking more than
one cigarette in the past year has risen from 22 per cent to 28 per cent
since 1991.

Perhaps the most disturbing statistic comes from a study showing that young
people still find it easy to buy cigarettes - though legally they can't be
sold to minors. Gas stations and independent convenience stores appear to be
the worst offenders.

"If we want to make a dent in the number of kids and adults smoking, we have
to make tobacco products much less available," said Roberta Ferrence,
director of the research unit.