Giuseppe Gorini1, Silvano Gallus2, Giulia Carreras1, Barbara Cortini1, Virginia Vannacci3, Lorena Charrier4, Franco Cavallo4, Sabrina Molinaro5, Daniela Galeone6, Lorenzo Spizzichino6, Barbara De Mei7, Roberta Pacifici7, Fabrizio Faggiano8. 1. Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology Section, Cancer Research & Prevention Institute, Florence, Italy. 2. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications 'G. Parenti', University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 4. Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy. 5. National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy. 6. Italian Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy. 7. National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy. 8. Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
Abstract
Background: Main aim was to describe youth smoking prevalence in Italy over the last two decades, and to provide recent trends in knowledge, attitudes towards smoking, awareness of anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and access to cigarettes. Methods: Figures from three surveillance systems, with 12 representative cross-sectional surveys (about 43 000 participants): European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 15-16-year-old students, 1995-2015; Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, 11-, 13-, 15-year-old students, 2002-14 and Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 13-15-year-old students, 2010, 2014. Results: Among 11- and 13-year-old students, daily and non-daily smokers decreased by 30-50% from 2002 to 2014. Among 15-16-year-old adolescents, ever smokers significantly decreased by 10% in the period 1995-2015, whereas current and daily smokers have been stalling or even increased. Appeal of smoking increased in 2014 compared to 2010, perception of SHS as harmful, and awareness of recent anti-tobacco mass media campaigns decreased. Moreover, a significant 30% reduction in reporting retailers did not refuse to sell cigarettes to adolescents and a decrease in reporting to buy cigarettes were reported. Conclusions: Policies enforced in Italy over the last 20 years slightly reduced ever smokers, but did not decrease current and daily smokers in 15-16-year-old adolescents, and determined an impact among younger adolescents. Stricter rules on youth tobacco access reduced ease of access to cigarettes, but did not affect adolescents' tobacco use. Stronger tobacco control measures are urgently needed in order to determine a steeper decline in smoking prevalence in adolescents.
Background: Main aim was to describe youth smoking prevalence in Italy over the last two decades, and to provide recent trends in knowledge, attitudes towards smoking, awareness of anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and access to cigarettes. Methods: Figures from three surveillance systems, with 12 representative cross-sectional surveys (about 43 000 participants): European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 15-16-year-old students, 1995-2015; Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, 11-, 13-, 15-year-old students, 2002-14 and Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 13-15-year-old students, 2010, 2014. Results: Among 11- and 13-year-old students, daily and non-daily smokers decreased by 30-50% from 2002 to 2014. Among 15-16-year-old adolescents, ever smokers significantly decreased by 10% in the period 1995-2015, whereas current and daily smokers have been stalling or even increased. Appeal of smoking increased in 2014 compared to 2010, perception of SHS as harmful, and awareness of recent anti-tobacco mass media campaigns decreased. Moreover, a significant 30% reduction in reporting retailers did not refuse to sell cigarettes to adolescents and a decrease in reporting to buy cigarettes were reported. Conclusions: Policies enforced in Italy over the last 20 years slightly reduced ever smokers, but did not decrease current and daily smokers in 15-16-year-old adolescents, and determined an impact among younger adolescents. Stricter rules on youth tobacco access reduced ease of access to cigarettes, but did not affect adolescents' tobacco use. Stronger tobacco control measures are urgently needed in order to determine a steeper decline in smoking prevalence in adolescents.