Less youthful smoker

Smoking among teenagers „out“

06/27/2013

Less and less young people are reaching for their cigarettes - a representative study by the Federal Center for Health Education (BzgA) has now come to this gratifying conclusion. According to the study, only half of all young people between the ages of 12 and 17 smoke in comparison to the year 2001, and just under three quarters of the young people have never had a cigarette before, according to the BzgA.

Smoking rate among adolescents „at a historic low“
Smoking is becoming more and more apparent among adolescents „out“ - because according to the current study for „Tobacco consumption of young people and young adults in Germany 2012“ According to the Federal Center for Health Education, the proportion of young smokers has more than halved over the past ten years: while in 2001, 27.5 percent of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 had smoked, only 12 percent would currently use their cigarette regularly - so be „The smoking rate among young people aged between 12 and 17 [.] in 2011 and 2012 has dropped to a historic low“, so the BzgA.

Even young adults smoke less and less often
At the same time, according to the BzgA, 71.7 percent (2001: 40.5 percent) of this age group had not yet had any experience of their own with regard to smoking „The proportion of those who have never smoked in their lives has continued to rise and is higher in 2012 than in any other survey over the past three decades“, according to the BzgA communication. But the trend towards non-smoking concerns not only the adolescents - even among young adults between 18 and 25 is used more and more rarely to the Glimmstengel: According to the BzgA in the year 2001, 44.5 percent smoked, while today in this age group still 35 , 2 percent of the individuals are smokers.

Educational differences are clearly reflected in smoking behavior
Another positive development is according to the BzgA the increased age of the first cigarette - because „the average age at which smokers start smoking was 14.4 years in 2012 and has increased (2001: 13.6 years)“, such a current press release of the BzgA. Although there are hardly any differences between the sexes - social or educational differences would clearly be reflected in the smoking behavior: Because „while 6.9 percent of high school students smoke, 16.7 percent of primary school pupils and 10.9 percent of secondary school students“. These differences would not change according to the BzgA even in the older age group, because the smoking is total „among the unemployed, employed persons, trainees and vocational students [...] more widespread than among students of the upper secondary school and students.“

Decline of young smoker „a success of the preventive measure of recent years“
According to Professor Dr. Elisabeth Pott - Director of the Federal Center for Health Education - show that „Non-smoking [.] Has become a social norm for adolescents over the last few years“ be. According to the BzgA, the marked decline in smoking in adolescents could be considered as a result of smoking „a success of the preventive measure of recent years“ In addition, the declining number of smokers among young adults would indicate this, „that effects that are achieved in adolescence, can continue into adulthood.“

Continue to implement tobacco prevention in schools in the future
But a reduction of the preventive measures is therefore far from thinking - instead, according to Professor. Elisabeth Pott „The figures confirm that tobacco prevention must continue to be implemented in schools in the future in order to reach all social classes.“ In this context, the BzgA on yesterday „World No Drugs Day“ on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the „smokeless“-Youth campaign on www.rauch-frei.info started an online photo competition with many for young people, under the motto: „Cooler than smoking, I think ... “ Teens are called, „to actively deal with the benefits of not smoking and to get creative“. (No)