One in Four High School Seniors Smoke: Is It an 'Epidemic'?

No, lol. From what I've heard from people out of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, teen smoking was commonplace and about as blatant as it seems today.

in the 1950s, before all the scare tactics began, it was 40%. Some people want to smoke and a lot of know when we're young, I knew when I was 10 & started at 12. These kids are no different than others. Some people are into smoking. I love it and am glad I started when I did.

Definelty my school is a charter school its like a public high school . But they do things a little different. We have a smoking committe club in our school ( i think thats what its call). But the teachers and staff made this club to help stop the teenagers in our school from smoking. But it did not really help. Also our school allows students to smoke on campus. But just not inside the school. But i dont understand why would someone so young in their youth. Have to smoke cigarettes. I dont think life is that hard for teenagers.

i dont know how it is out there but most of the kids start smoking at the age 13, i know people who started 9, 10, 12, its too common, i started at 13 quit at 15, started again at 16 and quit again a month ago, wont do that again, i FINALLY find it ridicculous to stick a burning stick in yo face and suck it ..

I found myself immediately asking "How the heck can they afford it?". Regardless, this is still WAY better than it was in the early '80s when I was in high school. I suspect it will continue to go down over time.

Sounds like the same percentage as it was when I was in HS.

Smoking is 100% unhealthy and big tobacco still targets our kids and the rest of the world. if I made a product that was as deadly as tobacco, I would be thrown in jail. only a republican would disagree that our youth is being preyed upon by BIG T

An apeidemic? No. It is unhealthy, but so is fast food and parents give that to their children; of course if they start young they are more likely to continue (same goes for not being active or eating bad food). It's bad and there should be more education to stop smoking in general, but epidemics involve an infectious disease, something smoking is not.

A big 'EPIDEMIC'!I saw even a kid smoking.Iven if we don't smoke literally we are smokers by the air we breath!That makes 90% percent smoking and (JUST)10% percent Not smoking!

teenager are getting out of hand with this smoking. i mean every where yo go you can see a teenager blowing smoke out thier mouths. but hey its thier lungs they are destroying if they love it i like it

It's just typical teenage stupidity.

my brother has emphysema and he rolls his O2 tank into highschools and middle schools now to show them what 30years of smoking ends up as...the tobacco companies lies of smoking being cool are more destructive to our country than Al Qaeda

Its scary...cant say they havent be warned. I started at 14...and its was a battle...now I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

And since this is the Obama Generation at play, they will expect that cancer will be cured in their lifetime in spite of their provocative behavior. This is why it used to be that smokers paid MORE for insurance. Obamacare changed that.

NO....ONLY...one of four. I thought It would be higher...!

One out of four is still a huge number....

True...!

It just goes to prove, in spite of all the fear campaigning, people will be people, and they aren't getting any smarter.

Better they smoke than eat McDonald's.

Ha, you might have a point there. Like I said, people aren't getting any smarter.
But then, I've never heard of anyone getting lung diseases from breathing second hand french fry smells.

it is simply that those people have and allow themselves the FREEDOM to choose to smoke without the so called watchers who have no time left except to worry about seperation from the rest, those who smoke are the same as me and you! just like people who choose to impose themselves on others, they have the right to do this also as remember we live in a free society where all races and religions walk with each other... Just because one person chooses to do something does not mean they are any different than me or you they have the same rights as everyone.

Stay together little ones do not be fooled by governing bodies.

choose freedom not a false way of being

love peace and light to all

Indeed they do have the freedom to choose to smoke. But in doing so they also have to realize that in doing so they have to assume the responsibilities that go along with their choices. That's part of freedom you know. They have to realize that they smell bad, their breath, their clothes, everything they own eventually smells like an old ash tray. Their tar and nicotine coats the walls of their homes. Ever clean the computer of a person who smokes while playing on their facebook account? The cooling fins over the processor look like the tar pits, full of the same stuff being inhaled, causing the processors to run hot. But, they are free to choose, it's simply that I choose not to inhale that stuff, or have my house smell like an ash tray, or have to scrub the film off the walls before I want to paint. Freedom from pollution shouldn't be too much to ask. So, fell free to smoke, in the comfort of your own home, respecting the rights of others who choose not to join you, and don't expect us to pick up your medical bills when you end up in the hopsital coughing up a lung, or pick up the slack when you miss work because you have another cold. Enjoy your freedon, just don't encroach on mine. Fair enough?

What's the odds of dying in say, 4 yrs, from smoking, or being killed in 4 yrs in a Republican oil war. The odds of dying from prescription drugs are far, far greater than smoking. How about driving and texting, or talking on the phone, you could die from that in a sec.

Sounds like you are a smoker in denial. If the don't kill you they make your life a bit difficult. I quit after 43 years and so far so good. It got to the point with me that doing simple things like raking leaves and I got out of breath. That was enough. It was the hardest thing to do because I liked my smokes but that was six years ago and I like breathing better.

lol, now that's speaking real.. so true

you have a strong grip on life, keep it we may need people like you soon :-) the others have all gone lemon.... :-)

Just what we need, more up and coming health issues to put a drain on our economy, because it makes you look so cool....

Huh?

One in FOUR? In a class of 30, that means about 7 or 8 kids smoke!? That's ridiculous!!

Such f***** stupid twits . . . .

Ahem, that's BS.

There will always be people without any common sense. This simply shows that at least 25% of the population have no common sense.

I think the numbers are actually down and wonder why this is the first study since 1994.

I started smoking in High school because it was the thing to do at the time. I quit when I was 20. For most it's just a phase. I would in no way call it an Epidemic. Such as in life, there will be people that smoke and there will be people that don't.

For some reason teenagers and smoking are drawn to each others during high school. Some come to there senses after the fad is over or they get some real life experiences behind them.

Any chance they are from the south?

I find this incredibly hard to believe.

We need to do all we can to stop this. If you see a teenager smoking warn them of the dangers and tell them to stop.

Yeah, become as big a PITA as possible. Maybe find a place on the Santorum campaign.

What does bread have to do with teen smoking?

I hate smoking and smokers. Smoking is disgusting, but high school smoking isn't an epidemic.

(Undecided)One of the largest corporations on the face of the planet, Phillip-Morris (makers of marlboro cigarettes). The fact of the matter is that American corporations and government know you better than you know yourself, we are all screwed.

They make little money from cigarettes. That's like saying tha the Koch Bros. are TP billionaires.