Most high school students who do smoke have made one or more attempts to stop, although most of these attempts appear not to have been successful. Unfortunately, unacceptably high numbers of Massachusetts youth continue to endanger their health by using tobacco products. Findings presented here call attention to the need for early and repeated tobacco prevention education, beginning well before high school and reinforced at every grade level. Many young people initiate tobacco use before high school, and those who do are more likely than their peers to become regular smokers. It is encouraging that 9th grade students in 1997, whose exposure to school and community anti-smoking messages is likely to have started earliest and been most consistent, reported lower prevalence of lifetime and recent smoking than had been true in 1995.
Regulations concerning adolescent tobacco purchasing and use are also important.
The substantial shift downward in the percentage of students who buy their cigarettes in stores is evidence that ordinances outlawing sale of tobacco products to minors are being enforced with increasing rigor, though not perfectly. It is also critical that there be stronger local enforcement of smoke-free school campuses, an area in which little apparent progress has been made in the past few years. Most students who smoke, especially those who have ever developed a regular smoking habit, have tried to quit at least once. Unfortunately, tobacco is an addictive substance, and most of these attempts have not been successful. School and community-based cessation programs aimed at adolescents would offer these students more support and guidance.