Smoking among high school students
Panagiotis Heras1, Konstantinos Kritikos, Antonios Hatzopoulos
1Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Cos, Cos, Greece. panheras@yahoo.com
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
|February 23, 2008
Summary
Recent data on Greek high school student smoking habits are scarce. This study reveals significant smoking prevalence and early initiation among adolescents, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Limited recent data exist on the smoking habits of high school students in Greece.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the epidemiological factors associated with smoking habits among high school students in Greece.
- To provide current data on adolescent smoking prevalence and behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 927 high school students (aged 15-18) in four regions of Cos, Greece.
- Data were collected on smoking status, age of initiation, daily consumption, and awareness of parental knowledge and smoking hazards.
Main Results:
- Smoking prevalence was 32.48% for boys and 27.19% for girls.
- 43.3% started smoking before age 14, with a mean initiation age of 14.4 years for boys and 14.9 for girls.
- Significant daily consumption was reported, with social factors and parental example identified as key determinants for initiation, despite high awareness of smoking hazards.
Conclusions:
- The findings highlight a substantial smoking prevalence among Greek adolescents.
- There is a clear need for integrated, well-planned anti-smoking policies targeting young people.
- Interventions should go beyond awareness campaigns to address the underlying social and familial determinants of adolescent smoking.
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