Open AccessHigh School Seniors’ Smoking Initiation and Progression 1 Year After Graduation
Author(s) -
Kenneth P. Tercyak,
Daniel Rodriguez,
Janet Audrain-McGovern
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2006.094235
Subject(s) - graduation (instrument) , medicine , public health , cigarette smoking , tobacco control , demography , young adult , environmental health , gerontology , nursing , geometry , mathematics , sociology
We explored cigarette smoking prevalence rates in former high school seniors 1 year after graduation and found that among 12th grade never smokers, 25% initiated smoking, and among 12th grade ever smokers, 39% increased their cigarette use. Alcohol use in 12th grade, along with not attending college, were both positively related to smoking progression. Risk for smoking initiation does not end at adolescence, and the public health community must continue tobacco control initiatives throughout adolescence and young adulthood.