Smoking habits in east Denmark at October 1979

In October 1979 an Omnibus Interview Survey was carried out covering 2 308 persons living in Denmark east of the Great Belt. Type and amount of tobacco consumption were registered. The multivariate structure of the data was examined by the use of a log linear model for the pinpointing of sufficient marginals among multiple contingency tables. An important finding was that among today's teenagers, more have started smoking before the age of 14 than ever before, viz. 64% of males and 77% of females. The outlines for a person-oriented antitobacco intervention program mediated by medical and dental doctors is outlined. Apart from humanitarian aspects, a cost benefit analysis may well show that an intervention program may save money in the long run.