Cigarette smoking patterns among young adults aged 18-24 years in the United States

Most tobacco control programs focus on prevention for children or cessation for adults. Little is known about cigarette smoking among young adults. This study examined sociodemographic variables associated with current, daily, heavy, and light smoking among young adults in the United States. Data from the 1998-1999 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) were used to examine cigarette smoking patterns and correlates of smoking among 15,371 young adults aged 18-24 years. We found that 26% of young adults were current smokers, 20% were daily smokers, and 8% were former smokers. Current smoking rates were higher among American Indians/Alaska Natives (33%) and Whites (31%) than among other racial/ethnic groups. Compared with white-collar workers, blue-collar and service workers were more likely to report current and daily smoking. Blue-collar workers also were more likely to report heavy smoking (OR = 1.97). The unemployed (those in the labor force but not currently working) and those reporting an annual household income of less than US$20,000 were more likely to report current, daily, and heavy smoking, compared with those not in the labor force and those reporting an annual household income of $20,000 or more, respectively. Young adults not currently enrolled in school were more than twice as likely to report current (OR = 2.36) and daily (OR = 2.90) smoking, compared with those currently enrolled in school. Differential cigarette smoking patterns by race/ethnicity, occupation, employment status, household income, and school enrollment status should be considered when developing interventions to reduce smoking among young adults.