OPINIONS AND BEHAVIOR IN FRENCH ADOLESCEN TS CONFRONTED WITH SMOKING IN 1995

Background - The French Committee for Health Education has observed th e adolescent's opinions and behaviours on smoking since 1977. Populati on and methods. - The surveys were carried out on a representative sam ple, made up by quotas method, of the population concerned (12 to 18 y ears old). The last data (1995) were analyzed in order to evaluate pre sent smoking behaviour and to measure the influence of the social envi ronment. Results. - In 1995 more than one out of three (35.1%) young p eople smoked at least once in a while; this smoking prevalence was nea rly the same among boys (34.7%) as among girls (35.5%). Since 1977, th e longterm trend of the rates showed a decrease and the monitoring of the starting age proved that adolescents began to smoke more and more later. The influence of peer and parents smoking was strong. The socio economic status of the family and also the amount of pocket money were other determinants of smoking. The family and school atmosphere playe d an important role as well. Conclusions. - The influence of all these environmental variables on the young person's smoking behaviour under lines the necessity of developing simultaneously campaigns aimed at yo ung people and actions among different populations. The emergence of a positive status for the non-smoker supports the choice of the strateg ies for the latest campaigns.