Tobacco Use Among Youths—Argentina, 2007 and 2012

July 11, 2014 / Vol. 63 / No. 27

MMWR Introduction

Results of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) indicate that an Argentina National Tobacco Control Law enacted in 2011 had a significant effect in lowering the rate of tobacco use among Argentinian adolescents during 2007 and 2012. However, smoking rates remain close to 25% and almost half of young people are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) in public places. The high exposure rates to SHS shows a challenge of protecting youths from SHS in public places. Increasing the price of tobacco products by raising tobacco taxes, implemented as part of WHO MPOWER comprehensive tobacco control approach, may be an important approach to promote further decline in young people smoking in Argentina.

Higher prevalence of frequent cigarette smoking among females and current smokeless tobacco use among males suggest that sex-specific tobacco control approaches among youths might merit consideration in Argentina.