Trends in childhood smoking

• one in five young people have tried smoking, and 9% of girls and 8% of boys report that they smoke at present
• at age 15, 59% of current smokers report that they smoke every day
• smoking behaviour among young people increased in the 1990’s but smoking rates have since fallen to those of 1990
• the gender gap in smoking that appeared in the late 90s, with girls smoking more than boys is no longer apparent.

Source: Scottish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study
Currie C, Levin K, Kirby J, Currie D, van der Sluijs W and Inchley J (2011) Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: World Health Organization Collaborative Cross-National Study (HBSC): findings from the 2010 HBSC survey in Scotland. Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit,
The University of Edinburgh. 
Available from: Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit [Accessed 03 May 2011]

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