Looks like the teen (high school) smoking rate has dropped sharply – meaning the anti-tobacco efforts have succeeded – here are the numbers:

Nearly 22 percent of U.S. high school students said they were smokers in 2003, down from more than 36 percent in 1997. The lowest previous smoking rate was in 1991, when 27.5 percent of students smoked.

In addition, a little more than 58 percent of students in 2003 said they tried smoking. More than 70 percent of students in 1999 said they tried it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The CDC warns that with increased tobacco advertising and decreasing settlement money, there is a risk of the rate increasing again. They are also pushing for more non-smoking "role models" and less smoking on TV and in movies.

Related:

Spitzer Sues Brown & Williamson Over Tobacco Ads

Posted by anastasia