Cigarettes smoked per day among high school students in the U.S., 1991-2009

Abstract

Background: Recent declines in current cigarette smoking among youth are encouraging, but less is known about the trends in the number of cigarettes smoked per day among youth.

Purpose: This study examined trends in the number of cigarettes smoked per day among U.S. high school students during 1991-2009.

Methods: Nationally representative data from the 1991-2009 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) were analyzed in 2010. The YRBS is a biennial, school-based survey representative of 9th- through 12th-grade students in the U.S. Each survey year, students completed anonymous, self-administered questionnaires that included identically worded questions about cigarette use. The number of cigarettes smoked per day on smoking days was categorized as light smoking (<1-5 cigarettes per day); moderate smoking (6-10 cigarettes per day); and heavy smoking (≥11 cigarettes per day). Sample sizes ranged from 10,904 to 16,410. Overall response rates ranged from 60% to 71%.

Results: During 1991-2009, among current cigarette users overall, light smoking increased from 67.2% to 79.4% and heavy smoking decreased from 18.0% to 7.8%. These trends were found among female and male students overall and white students. Among Hispanic students, light smoking remained stable, but heavy smoking significantly increased from 3.1% in 1991 to 6.4% in 2009. The prevalence of light, moderate, and heavy smoking did not change during 1991-2009 among black students.

Conclusions: The finding that during 1991-2009 light smoking increased and heavy smoking decreased among current cigarette users is encouraging; however, even light smoking is detrimental to health and efforts to reduce all cigarette use should continue.