American Legacy Foundation, First Look Report 13. Cigarette Smoking among Youth. Results from the 2002 National Youth Tobacco Survey

This report based on the 2002 NYTS, preesnts rates of ever, current, and frequent smoking; ever smoking daily; number of cigarettes smoked; cigarette type and brand preferences; and use of menthol cigarettes. This report also shows the change in current smoking from 2000 to 2002. Tobacco use has declined since 2000 among high school students. In 2000, 28 percent of high school students in the United States were current smokers, compared with 23 percent in 2002. Among middle school students, the trend is less encouraging; smoking remained relatively stable, with rates of use at 11 percent in 2000 and 10 percent in 2002. Some of the factors believed to be associated with the decline in smoking among high school students are state and national media campaignsm such as the national truth campaign; increased cigarette prices; restrictions on tobacco advertising; and smoke-free laws and policies. It is unclear why middle school smoking rates remain unchanged