Opinions and behaviour in French adolescents confronted with smoking in 1995

Background - The French Committee for Health Education has observed the adolescent's opinions and behaviours on smoking since 1977. Population and methods. - The surveys were carried out on a representative sample, made up by quotas method, of the population concerned (12 to 18 years old). The last data (1995) were analyzed in order to evaluate present smoking behaviour and to measure the influence of the social environment. Results. - In 1995 more than one out of three (35.1%) young people smoked at least once in a while; this smoking prevalence was nearly the same among boys (34.7%) as among girls (35.5%). Since 1977, the longterm trend of the rates showed a decrease and the monitoring of the starting age proved that adolescents began to smoke more and more later. The influence of peer and parents smoking was strong. The socioeconomic status of the family and also the amount of pocket money were other determinants of smoking. The family and school atmosphere played an important role as well. Conclusions. - The influence of all these environmental variables on the young person's smoking behaviour underlines the necessity of developing simultaneously campaigns aimed at young people and actions among different populations. The emergence of a positive status for the non-smoker supports the choice of the strategies for the latest campaigns.