TEENAGE SMOKING SOARS ABOVE ADULTS [12/20]

According to a new survey entitled "Monitoring the Future," and conducted with federal funding by the University of Michigan:

* 34% of high school seniors smoke today, compared with 25% [ASH: 22% in a recent survey] for the general adult population.

* Between 1995 and 1996, the percentage of students reporting any cigarette smoking in the previous 30 days increased by about 10% among eighth and 10th-graders.

* Over the past five years, the proportion of students using tobacco has increased about 50% overall.

* The percentage of eighth-graders who smoke rose from 14% to 21%.

* The percentage of 10th-graders who smoke jumped from 21% to 30%.

* Tobacco use by twelfth-graders jumped by one-fifth overall since 1991.

ASH - ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH 2013 H Street, NW / Washington, DC 20006 / (202) 659-4310