Smoking rate among adolescents dropped significantly

Teenagers smoke much less

12/02/2012

The number of adolescent smokers has declined significantly in the last ten years, according to a recent study by the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA). Thus, the tightened legislation and the intensive prevention campaigns seem to be effective.

The Federal Center for Health Education has examined the addictive behavior of young people in Germany on the basis of a comprehensive study. 5,001 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 25 were questioned about their alcohol, cannabis and tobacco consumption. In all three areas, there was a very positive development compared to previous surveys, with the tobacco consumption numbers showing the most positive trend. From 27.5 percent in 2001 to 12.9 percent in 2010, the smoking rate among young people aged 12 to 17 years has declined.

Trend reversal in drug use
In the so-called „Drug Affinity Study“ For more than three decades, the BZgA has regularly recorded the addictive behavior of adolescents and young adults. The development to be recognized is quite pleasing, as it seems „fewer and fewer children and adolescents come into contact with narcotic drugs“, said the Drug Commissioner of the Federal Government, Mechthild Dyckmans (FDP). „This is a sign that the diverse preventive measures are taking effect“, Dyckmans continues. The director of the Federal Center for Health Education supplemented: „In the case of underage adolescents, there has been a trend reversal in drug use in recent years.“

Consumption reaches new low
The turnaround is also possible „the decline in tobacco consumption to a new low“ recognize, emphasized the BZgA director. The smoking quota for 12 to 17-year-olds in 2011 was only 11.7 percent, which represents a very gratifying development compared to the value from 2001 of just under 28 percent. Among the young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, the smoking rate fell from 44.5 percent to 36.8 percent over the same period, according to the BZgA. At the same time, according to the latest survey, the proportion of young people who have never smoked in their lives has increased significantly. So was the „Non smoking share“ in the 12 to 17 old adolescents in 2001 still at 40.5 percent and in 2011 has risen to 70.8 percent. In the case of young adults (18 to 25 years), the proportion has increased from 23.1 per cent in 2001 to 27.6 per cent in 2011.

Educational campaigns with success
Both the Federal Drug Commissioner and the Director of the BZgA attribute the decline in tobacco use to comprehensive preventive measures such as the smoke-free campaign launched in 2003. The increase in tobacco tax has also made many young people unable to afford cigarettes so easily. The harsher legislation, such as the ban on smoking in public buildings, restaurants and nightclubs, also means that adolescents are more concerned about the health risks of nicotine use. Overall, the measures showed a clear success. The hereby achieved „Positive trends need to be continued so that they can be effective later in adulthood“, emphasized the director of the BZgA, continuation of the campaign activities in the next few years indispensable“, so the conclusion of the expert. (Fp)

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With hypnosis for the nonsmoker

Picture credits: Martin Büdenbender