INCREASED LEVELS OF CIGARETTE USE AMONG COLLEGE-STUDENTS - A CAUSE FOR NATIONAL CONCERN

Context.-Adolescent smoking prevalence is tracked annually and has inc reased since 1991. In contrast, little is known about trends in smokin g among college students, a group that has previously been more resist ant to tobacco use than other young adults. Objective.-To examine chan ges in cigarette smoking among college students between 1993 and 1997 and among different types of students and colleges. Design.-Seif-admin istered survey (Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study) . Setting.-One hundred sixteen nationally representative 4-year colleg es. Subjects.-A total of 15 103 randomly selected students in 1993 (70 % response rate) and 14 251 students in 1997 (60% response rate). Main Outcome Measures.-Self-reports of cigarette smoking in the past 30 da ys and in the past year, age at smoking first cigarette, and number of attempts to quit. Results.-Over 4 years, the prevalence of current (3 0-day) cigarette smoking rose by 27.8%, from 22.3% to 28.5% (P<.001). The increase was observed in 99 of 116 colleges and was statistically significant(P<.05) in 27 (23%) of them. Current smoking increased acro ss all student subgroups (defined by sex, race/ ethnicity, and year in school) and in all types of colleges. Smoking is rising faster in pub lic schools (from 22.0% to 29.3%) than in private schools (from 22.9% to 26.8%). Eleven percent of college smokers had their first cigarette and 28% began to smoke regularly at or after age 19 years, by which t ime most were already in college. Half of current smokers tried to qui t in the previous year; 18% had made 5 or more attempts to quit. Concl usions.-Cigarette use is increasing on campuses nationwide in all subg roups and types of colleges. Substantial numbers of college students a re both starting to smoke regularly and trying to stop. National effor ts to reduce smoking should be extended to college students.