Daily smoking by Louisiana students: sixth through twelfth grades, 1996-1997

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Adolescent smoking remains a significant public health concern.
• Understanding the prevalence of daily smoking among students is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of daily smoking among Louisiana students in grades 6-12.
• To compare these rates with national student smoking data.
• To compare student smoking rates with Louisiana adult smoking rates.

Main Methods:

• A statewide, randomized, stratified classroom-based survey was conducted.
• The survey included 11,736 subjects during the 1996-1997 school year.

Main Results:

• Daily smoking prevalence increased from 17.3% in 6th grade to 36.1% in 12th grade.
• Native American (43.7%) and white (37.8%) students reported the highest daily smoking rates.
• Louisiana students in grades 8, 10, and 12 smoked daily at substantially higher rates than national samples, and higher than Louisiana adults.

Conclusions:

• Student smoking in Louisiana represents a significant public health problem.
• Higher smoking rates in Louisiana students, particularly females, compared to adults highlight a critical need for intervention.