High School Students Who Tried to Quit Smoking Cigarettes—United States, 2007

May 01, 2009 / Vol. 58 / No. 16

MMWR Introduction

In 2007, nearly two-thirds (60.9%) of students who ever smoked cigarettes daily tried to quit smoking cigarettes; however, among those who tried to quit, only 12.2% were successful. While the prevalence of success in quitting did not vary by sex or race/ethnicity, more students in 9th grade (22.9%) than in 10th grade (10.7%), 11th grade (8.8%) and 12th grade (10.0%) were successful at quitting. These findings reinforce the need to fully implement and sustain comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs that increase excise taxes, promote smoke-free air policies, and conduct media campaigns in conjunction with other community-based interventions, such as tobacco-use prevention programs in schools that include school policy and education components. These proven interventions are effective in reducing smoking among youth and adults.