title: The prevalence of unrecognized tobacco use among young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of smoking among young adults and to describe their characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were examined from the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey, a telephone survey of 8821 residents with a sample of 1205 young adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence was 39% using the adolescent definition and 32% using the adult definition. Nearly 1 in 5 young adult smokers may be considered a "previously unrecognized smoker" who would not have been identified as a cigarette user according to the standard adult definition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies assessing prevalence should use both adolescent and adult measures.
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. steven.foldes@gmail.com
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Foldes
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Pete
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rode
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schillo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davern
authors.forename: Nina L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Alesci
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saul
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Zupan
authors.forename: Marc W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Manley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D055815:Young Adult