Young Northlanders are heeding calls to quit smoking, with a new survey showing youth smoking rates dropping from 23 percent in 2004 to 20 percent last year. The figure in 2000 was 31 percent. The figures are for Year 10 pupils who smoke at least once a month, and come from arecent Action on Smoking and Health study. The rates of Year 10 pupils smoking every day dropped from 18 percent in 2000 to 14 percent in 2004, and 13 percent last year. Northland has traditionally had one of the country's highest youth smoking rates and, in 2004, was ranked 19th worst of 21 health board regions. However, young Northlanders appear to be kicking the habit at a faster rate than their peers elsewhere in the country, as the region is now ranked No.16. ASH director Becky Freeman said one of the striking features of the latest survey was a reduced gap in smoking rates between different socio-economic groups. The report also noted a decline in smoking amongst Maori girls for the second year in a row - a group that has until recently seen the highest uptake of cigarettes. The lowest overall youth smoking rate was in the Waitemata region, and the highest was in Southland. The survey involved 1165 young Northlanders.
