Underaged cigarette smoking rate drops sharply over decade

About 6% of adolescents smoked cigarettes in 2012-2013, down from nearly 13% in 2002-2003, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. State rates in 2012-2013 ranged from about 4% in California to 10% in Kentucky. However, increases in e-cigarette and hookah use are offsetting declines in use of more traditional products such as cigarettes, the report notes. “The decline in underage cigarette smoking during this period is encouraging and shows that spreading the word to young people about the risks from smoking can make an enormous positive difference,” said Fran Harding, director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. “Unfortunately, far too many young people still use tobacco products.”