Prevalence of daily and experimental smoking among University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduates, 1989-1993.
Limited information is available on smoking among college students. This study surveyed smoking prevalence and frequency among University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduates aged 17 to 22 (n = 6,069) during the years 1989 through 1993. Sampling was conducted before and after the implementation of a smoke-free campus policy. Daily smoking remained constant across the 5 years at just under 10% of the sample; males showed a trend toward increased daily smoking (7.8% to 11.7%), while females showed a declining trend (10.2% to 8.4%). Additionally, 27% engaged in experimental smoking (smoking every few days, weeks, or months), resulting in a disturbing overall rate of tobacco use: about 37% of all students. These data indicate a need for more directed efforts to help university students overcome the threat of tobacco addiction.
Fiore
M C
MC
Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, UW Medical School, Madison 53706.
Jorenby
D E
DE
Wetter
D W
DW
Kenford
S L
SL
Smith
S S
SS
Baker
T B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology