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Availability of Tobacco

In 2008 about 28% of the US population over age 12 used tobacco at least once a month. Almost 45% of young adults aged 18 to 25 reported the highest rates of tobacco consumption. For younger Americans, about 8% of 8th graders reported smoking tobacco in the previous 30 days. About 16% of 10th graders said they had smoked in the month before the survey. About 20% of 12th graders stated they had smoked during the previous 30 days (Monitoring the Future).

According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (C.A.S.A.), the most common source of cigarettes for teens is their friends. 29% of surveyed teens state friends will give them cigarettes. “Home” is the stated source for 9% of teen smokers. 10% of teens who smoke acquire their cigarettes from stores.

In 1992 78% of American 8th grade students stated it was fairly easy or very easy to obtain cigarettes. That same year 89% of students in the 10th grade reported cigarettes as fairly easy or very easy to obtain. This study assumed that 100% of 12th graders would report ease in obtaining cigarettes (“Monitoring the Future: Overview of Key Findings, 2008 – National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institutes of Health/U.S. Dept. Of Health and Human Services).

By 2008 8th and 10 grader data on ease of availability declined. 57% of 8th graders reported cigarettes as fairly easy or very easy to obtain. 77% of 10th graders stated cigarettes were fairly easy or very easy to obtain.

Tobacco Tutorial: Page 3 of 21