The use of tobacco products in adolescence usually leads to a lifelong addiction to nicotine. Recent evidence shows that about half of all persistent cigarette smokers who start young are eventually killed by their habit, unless they quit. There were 100 million deaths from tobacco in the 20th century, but if current smoking patterns continue, the number will increase ten-fold this century.

National survey

The first nationally representative study on tobacco-use among school-going learners found that 46.7 % of learners in grades 8-10 reported ever having smoked cigarettes, 23,0% of them reported being current smokers (smoked cigarettes on one of more days in the past month) and 10% were frequent smokers (smoked on 20 or more days in the past month). Almost 1out of 5 learners (18.5%) reported first smoking cigarettes before the age of 10 years, and among current smokers 76,65 had tried to quit smoking in the past year.

*From the 1st South African National Youth Risk behavior survey 2002

1. EVER SMOKERS		2. AGE OF INITIATION BEFORE 10 YEARS		3. CURRENT SMOKERS		4. CURRENT FREQUENT SMOKERS		5. TRIED TO QUIT CIGARETTES		6. USED SMOKELESS TABACCO
Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
40%	23%	8,7%	4,2%	29%	14,9%	10%	3,7%	47%	48.10%	10,8%	10,3%
TOTAL 30,5%		TOTAL 6,2%		TOTAL 21,1%		TOTAL 6,5%		TOTAL 47,4%		TOTAL 10,5%

1. Ever tried smoking cigarettes
2. Tried a cigarette before age 10
3. Smoked cigarettes on one or more days during the month preceding the survey
4. Smoked on 20 or more days during the month preceding the survey
5. Of current smokers, during the year preceding the survey
6. During the month preceding the survey (chewing tobacco or snuff etc.)

Conclusion regarding the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2002 (SA)

• There is a significant decrease in the prevalence of ever smoking and frequent smoking among learners in Grades 8 -10.
• A large drop in the prevalence of current smoking, first smoking before the age of 10 years and of the use of tobacco products other than cigarettes.
• Numbers of current and never smokers has in creased since 1999 in support of the banning of smoking in public places.
• Underage sales of cigarettes have decreased over the past 3 years.
• There has been a significant decrease in the number of learners who had been exposed to tobacco advertisements in magazines and papers.

Inquiries:

Harry Mchunu
082 444 9501 or
012 312 0532

Patricia Lambert
082 566 3608

Peter Ucko @ 082 454 9889 - Director of National Council Against Smoking