Cigarette Use Among High School Students——United States, 1991–2007

June 27, 2008 / Vol. 57 / No. 25

MMWR Highlights

• The prevalence of current cigarette use among high school students remained unchanged from 2003 to 2007 following an increase from 27.5% in 1991 to 36.4% in 1997, and subsequently a significant decline to 21.9% in 2003. Current cigarette use is defined as having smoked on one or more days of the 30 days preceding the survey.
• The prevalence of current cigarette use among black female students increased from 11.3% in 1991 to 17.7% in 1999, and then declined significantly to 8.4% in 2007.
• The prevalence of lifetime cigarette use was stable during 1991–1999 and then declined significantly from 70.4% in 1999 to 50.3% in 2007. Lifetime cigarette use is defined as having ever tried cigarette smoking, even one or two puffs.
• While the prevalence of current frequent cigarette use remained stable from 2003 to 2007, it increased from 12.7% in 1991 to 16.8% in 1999 and then declined significantly to 8.1% in 2007. Current frequent cigarette use is defined as smoking on at least 20 of the 30 days preceding the survey.
• The national health objective for 2010 of reducing current cigarette use among high school students to 16% or less can be achieved only if the annual rate of decline observed during 1997–2003 resumes.
• Further declines in youth cigarette use similar to that observed from 1997–2003 will require full implementation of comprehensive tobacco control efforts including use of counter-advertising mass media campaigns; comprehensive school-based tobacco-use prevention policies and programs; community interventions that reduce tobacco advertising, promotions, and commercial availability of tobacco products; and higher prices for tobacco products through increases in unit prices and excise taxes.