Trends in tobacco use among Estonian and Russian youth in Tallinn

Smoking behaviour and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) were ex amined in three cross-sectional surveys from 1991/92, 1993/94, and 1995/96. The study population comprised 3,185 Estonian and Russian adolescents from 17 schools in Tallinn, Estonia. Prevalence of ever-smoking girls increased by 13 percentage points versus 2% among boys during the study period. Mean ages of the first experimentation with tobacco and exposure to ETS did not change significantly. Regular smoking increased significantly from 1991/92 to 1995/96. Detailed analyses for the 1995/96 survey showed that among eth nic Estonians, compared with ethnic Russians, the prevalence of ever-smoker s and regular smoking were higher, mean age for the first experimentation w as younger, and on average, Estonians smoked more cigarettes per week. The smoking trend among adolescents in Estonia is worsening; especially among E stonian youth. This study identifies a compelling need for national and com munity-wide efforts to deter adolescents from smoking and to reduce the exp osure to ETS.