Teenage Smoking & Socioeconomic Status

Of those who begin smoking in the teen years, most are addicted by age 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the US each day 3,900 children and teens between the ages of 12 and 17 smoke their first cigarette.

Identification

• According to 2007 statistics compiled by the CDC, race is not a huge factor in teen smoking. The rates of smoking by race were 11.6 percent of African American students, 16.7 percent of Hispanic and 23.2 percent of white students.

Significance

• Certain factors are associated with teen smoking including low socioeconomic status and having parents or caregivers who are smokers, according to the CDC.

Effects

• Teen smoking is also associated with other problem behaviors including alcohol use, violence and high-risk sexual activity.