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High school seniors' smoking initiation and progression 1 year after graduation.

Tercyak KP, Rodriguez D, Audrain-McGovern J

Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. tercyakk@georgetown.edu

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.

Published 24 July 2007 in Am J Public Health, 97(8): 1397-8.
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