Trends in black/white differences in current smoking among 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States, 1983-1993

Objectives: A study was undertaken to analyze the independent relationship between race (black/white) and cigarette smoking among 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States, 1983-1993. Methods: An 11-year analysis of cross-sectional national surveys was used in the study. Odds ratio for current smoking among black-surveyed subjects (vs. whites) was determined. Results: The multiple logistic regression-derived odds ratio (OR) for current smoking for blacks aged 18 to 24 years, vs. whites, decreased from 0.69 (95% CI 0.53, 0.89) in 1983 to 0.26 (95% CI 0.17, 0.42) in 1993. The combined-years model predicted a decrease in OR for blacks from 0.82 in 1983 to 0.30 in 1993, adjusted for sex, age, education, poverty status, and geographic region. Conclusions: From 1983 to 1993, blacks aged 18 to 24 years became decreasingly at risk to be smokers, compared to whites, even after adjustment for confounding factors. Young blacks have been more resistant than young whites to begin smoking in recent years. Understanding reasons behind this widening black/white difference could lead to better prevention strategies.