Cigarette-smoking and drug use in schoolchildren in the Hunter Region, New South Wales. 1. Tobacco, alcohol and analgesic use in 10 to 12 year old primary schoolchildren (1979)

Abstract

In 1979, as the first stage in the evaluation of an educational strategy designed to discourage children from smoking, we surveyed primary school children aged from 10 to 12 years in the Hunter Health Region (New South Wales) determine smoking prevalence rates. The self-report questionnaires also included questions on use of alcohol and analgesics. Our results suggest a possible decline in smoking prevalence from levels observed in earlier Australian studies. Among the smokers, over half the children claimed to smoke one brand (Winfield). Children who admitted to being regular cigarette smokers were more likely to be the children who made regular use of alcohol and analgesics.