Concepedia

The report of the Surgeon General: preventing tobacco use among young people.

M J Elders, Cheryl L. Perry, M P Eriksen, Gary A. Giovino

American Journal of Public Health · 1994 · 272 citations · 34 references

Open access

TL;DR

The Surgeon General’s 2023 report is the first to focus on tobacco use among young people. The report seeks to identify six major conclusions about youth tobacco use based on extensive data. The authors restate the six conclusions, summarize supporting data, and discuss implications for public health action. The report concludes that nearly all first tobacco use occurs by age 18, most adolescent smokers are addicted, tobacco often precedes illegal drug use, psychosocial risk factors exist, cigarette advertising increases risk, and communitywide efforts can reduce adolescent use.

Abstract

This year's surgeon general's report on smoking and health is the first such report to focus on young people. From extensive data that indicate that tobacco use is a pediatric epidemic, the report reached six major conclusions: (1) Nearly all first use of tobacco occurs by age 18. (2) Most adolescent smokers are addicted to nicotine. (3) Tobacco is often the first drug used by young people who subsequently use illegal drugs. (4) There are identified psychosocial risk factors for the onset of tobacco use. (5) Cigarette advertising also appears to increase young people's risk of smoking. (6) Communitywide efforts have successfully reduced adolescent use of tobacco. This commentary restates each of the six conclusions, summarizes the data that support each, and then considers the implications of the conclusions for public health action.