title: Trends and effects of cigarette smoking among girls and women in the United States, 1965-1993.
abstract: Each year, cigarette smoking causes more than 140,000 deaths among women in the United States. Here, we describe smoking trends among girls and women, including women of reproductive age and pregnant women. We also provide data regarding the prevalence of indicators of nicotine dependence among women in the United States. The data were derived from the National Health Interview Survey, High School Seniors Survey, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, and Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey. The prevalence of smoking among women overall is now declining at a rate comparable to that of men, and women are attempting cessation and maintaining abstinence at the same rate as men. However, smoking prevalence among women in certain demographic groups such as American Indians and Alaska Natives is high. Although the prevalence of smoking increased among young women (particularly women of lower educational attainment) in the early 1980s, more recent surveys show it is declining. Smoking prevalence among young black and Hispanic women is decreasing, but progress in decreasing smoking prevalence among young white women is slow. Young women appear to be as nicotine dependent as older women, and light smokers of all ages report indicators of nicotine dependence.
authors.affiliation: Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Husten
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chrismon
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000639:trends*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health