Cigarette smoking and the young: a national survey.

Cigarette smoking behaviour among the young was examined in the light of the responses of over 78 000 students to a 1972 questionnaire survey of Canadian schools. As few as 2% (8-year-old girls) and as many as 60% (16 year--old boys) were smoking one or more cigarettes per week. The prevalence of smoking was higher than that reported in earlier studies. Students, particularly girls, were beginning to smoke at progressively earlier ages. Some differences in smoking behaviour were found between regions, language groups and groups of children whose parents did or did not smoke. Recognition of immediate rather than long-term effects of smoking on health was reported as an important consideration in not smoking.