Increased Levels of Cigarette Use Among College Students: A Cause for National Concern

摘要: Context.—Adolescent smoking prevalence is tracked annually and has increased since 1991. In contrast, little known about trends in among college students, a group that previously been more resistant to tobacco use than other young adults.Objective.—To examine changes cigarette college students between 1993 1997 different types of colleges.Design.—Self-administered survey (Harvard School Public Health College Alcohol Study).Setting.—One hundred sixteen nationally representative 4-year colleges.Subjects.—A total 15,103 randomly selected 1993 (70% response rate) and 14,251 (60% rate).Main Outcome Measures.—Self-reports the past 30 days past year, age at first cigarette, number attempts quit.Results.—Over 4 years, current (30-day) rose by 27.8%, from 22.3% 28.5% (P<.001). The increase was observed 99 116 colleges was statistically significant (P<.05) 27 (23%) them. Current increased across all student subgroups (defined by sex, race/ethnicity, year in school) colleges. Smoking rising faster public schools (from 22.0% 29.3%) than private schools (from 22.9% 26.8%). Eleven percent smokers had their 28% began smoke regularly or after 19 which time most were already college. Half tried quit previous year; 18% made 5 or quit.Conclusions.—Cigarette increasing on campuses nationwide subgroups and Substantial numbers are both starting to smoke regularly trying stop. National efforts reduce smoking should be extended students.