Many 12-year-olds 'daily smokers'

Many 12-year-olds have already experimented with tobacco and a significant number smoke daily, a study on smoking behaviour says.

A total of 3041 Year 8 (Form 2) students and Year 12 (Form 6) students from a range of Auckland schools took part in the study.

Published in this month's New Zealand Medical Journal, the study found that many students in the younger age group had experimented with tobacco, and some were daily smokers.

Asian students were found to be less likely to smoke.

The mid-teen years were "critical" for establishing persistent smoking habits, the report said.

Sixty-four per cent of 16-year-olds had smoked in the past, and 28.8 per cent of 12-year-olds had.

Of the 12-year-old Asian students, only 2.4 per cent had tried a cigarette before, compared with Pakeha/European, 13.3 per cent, Maori, 20.6, Pacific Island, 15.2 and other ethnic groups, 7.1.

By the time Asian students were aged 16, 21.4 per cent had tried tobacco. Pakeha/European students who had smoked rose to 43.9 per cent, Maori, 44.1 per cent, Pacific Island, 33.4 per cent and other ethnic groups 28.7 per cent.

Students from higher decile schools were 5 per cent more likely to have smoked than those at lower decile ones.

The report said previous studies had linked the amount of pocket money young people had to cigarette smoking.

Parents who smoked were also identified as a big factor.

However, previous studies showed that parental influence reduced and the influence of friends' behaviour took over as children grew older.

The report recommended campaigns to reduce smoking in Maori and Pacific Island young people.

A focus on Maori "should continue to be a priority in terms of smoking cessation and prevention initiatives aimed at both young people and adults".

Present tobacco-control initiatives had helped reduce adult smoking and slow the prevalence of smoking among young people.

However, the report said more needed to be done.

- NZPA