Whites lost an estimated 913,943 years. In general, women in the lowest age and socioeconomic categories are most likely to smoke during pregnancy. Among all pregnant women over age 20, decreases in smoking prevalence between 1967-1980 varied considerably by race. Among pregnant women who smoke, blacks smoke fewer cigarettes per day than whites. Every day more than 3,000 American teenagers become regular smokers-that's more than 1 million annually.
Most regular smokers start in their teens.
However, this trend is more dominant among white teenagers. Another indirect measure of smoking initiation is the prevalence of smoking among persons aged 20 to 24 years. Ninety percent of persons who will become regular smokers have begun smoking by age 20. A report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office on Smoking and Health, 1989.