A study of teenage women at 32 contraceptive clinics shows a negative relationship between age of first intercourse and level of cigarette smoking. Preventive, timely contraceptive behavior is also negatively associated with smoking. Interventions that take these findings into account could and should be designed. (Author/GC)

Investigated changes in tobacco promotions in two alternative newspapers in San Francisco and Philadelphia from 1994-99. Results indicated that the numbers of tobacco advertisements increased dramatically during those years. The tobacco industry increased its use of bars and clubs as promotional venues and used the alternative press to reach young…

Assessed the short-term effects of a television counteradvertising media campaign, the Florida "truth" campaign, on rates of adolescents' smoking initiation. Followup surveys of adolescents interviewed during the first 6 months of the advertising campaign indicated that exposure to the "truth" campaign lowered the risk of youth…

Investigated whether age at initiation of regular smoking and likelihood of quitting smoking through age 35 years would differ among younger and older women. Data from annual population-based surveys of residents of Geneva, Switzerland, indicated that young female smokers had a higher propensity to quit than older women. There were no differences…

A longitudinal study of 1,761 children found that children in nonsmoking households used significantly more outpatient services than did those in smoking households, a relationship largely accounted for by the use of more preventive medical services by those in nonsmoking households. (CMG)

Developed a simulation model to predict the effects of policies for reducing adolescent smoking initiation. The model projected numbers of smokers, never smokers, and ex-smokers by age, sex, and race/ethnicity and effects of reductions in youth initiation. Results predicted that even if tobacco policies eliminated youth initiation, the number of…

Factors associated with quitting smoking were analyzed. Quitters were those who had stopped for at least one year. Quit rates were higher for males, those in higher age groups of both sexes, those of higher educational and occupational levels, Jews, and whites. (Author.VM)

Examination of data from a national survey reveals that the odds of ever smoking are not higher for blacks than for whites. The odds of heavy smoking for blacks are far less than for whites. Blacks are significantly less likely to quit smoking than whites, regardless of socioeconomic or demographic factors. (Author/BJV)

Compared the effectiveness of the American Cancer Society's "FreshStart," the American Lung Association's "Freedom from Smoking," and a laboratory smoking cessation clinic. A one-year followup favored the more intensive laboratory and "Freedom from Smoking" clinics over the "FreshStart" method. (FMW)

Examined 1979-97 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse data to investigate the probabilities of progression through a sequence of stages of substance use. Progression to marijuana and hard drugs was uncommon in people born before World War II. The stages phenomenon emerged with the baby boom and peaked among people born around 1960.…

Tested the relationship between dieting frequency and risk of smoking initiation among middle school students. Data on students who completed a nutrition and physical activity intervention study indicated that girls who dieted up to once per week had twice the adjusted odds of becoming smokers. Girls who dieted more often had four times the…

Examines the relationship between depressive mood and cigarette smoking among a sample of 123 adolescent males and 82 adolescent females. Finds an independent relation of depressive mood, friends' smoking behavior, and living in a single-parent home. Concludes that depressive mood and stress may contribute to the onset of smoking. (FMW)

Evaluates 3 1985-87 mass media campaigns designed to prevent smoking by adolescents, using data gathered by telephone contact with over 2,000 households. The campaigns had but a modest or indeterminate result. Radio proved as effective as television. (DM)

Assesses the effectiveness of a local antismoking contest in Bloomington (Minnesota) that was coordinated with a statewide campaign. Interviews were conducted with 218 local and 198 statewide participants. Finds that the local contest had a higher impact than the statewide contest. (FMW)

Drug use was investigated in a follow-up cohort of former adolescents representative of high school students in New York State who were interviewed nine years later at ages 24-25. A typical progression from one type of drug to another was established, but this does not necessarily imply causal relationships between different drugs. (KH)