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15 year olds - 2006 statistics

Smoking prevalence and consumption

15% of 15 year olds smoke regularly*
- 12% of 15 year old boys smoke regularly
- 18% of 15 year old girls smoke regularly
47% of 15 year olds have never smoked
52% of 15 year old regular smokers smoke more than 35 cigarettes in an average week
82% of 15 year old regular smokers reported buying cigarettes from shops
38% of 15 year old regular smokers reported being given cigarettes by friends
49% of 15 year old regular smokers said they would like to give up smoking altogether
71% of 15 year old regular smokers had tried to give up smoking
67% of 15 year old regular smokers reported that it would be very difficult or fairly difficult to give up smoking
67% of 15 year old regular smokers had been smoking for more than one year

72% of 15 year old regular smokers said that their family would either stop them smoking or persuade them to stop if they found out
92% of 15 year old non-smokers said that their family would either stop them smoking or persuade them to stop if they found out
62% of 15 year old regular smokers reported that at least one of their parents was a daily smoker
44% of 15 year old regular smokers reported that all or almost all of their friends also smoked
60% of 15 year old non-smokers reported that none or almost none of their friends smoked
91% of 15 year old regular smokers reported smoking often with friends

87% of 15 year old regular smokers reported that they hang around the streets weekly or more frequently
50% of 15 year old non-smokers reported that they hang around the streets weekly or more frequently
47% of 15 year old regular smokers reported doing a sport at least once a week
70% of 15 year old non-smokers reported doing a sport at least once a week

*regular smoking is classed as smoking 1 or more cigarettes per week

Source: BMRB Social Research. 2007. Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) - National Report 2006. [online]. Available from: http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/abstracts/salsus_national06.htm
[accessed 11 June 2007]