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Studies: The younger you smoke, the tougher to quit
August 23, 1996
Web posted at: 11:55 a.m. EDTFrom Correspondent Jeff Levine
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House hopes its new tobacco rules will keep many youngsters from taking up smoking. The rationale: Some studies show that those who light up early in life have a harder time quitting as adults.
Former smoker Kjeld Christensen thinks the new federal rules to limit teen smoking are a good idea. He started smoking when he was 15, and has spent much of the last 35 years trying to stop.
"I must have quit one thousand times," Christensen said. "You know -- an hour at a time, a day at a time, a week at a time. I tried a number of things. "
Even though it's technically illegal, more than 3 million children smoke.
"I know people that are more social smokers, (of) college age, are less likely to be chronically addicted," Dr. Dennis Murphy of Alexandria Hospital said. "People who have been on since high school or prior to that seem to be long-term abusers."
Both Murphy and Christensen welcome President Clinton's new rules limiting tobacco access and advertising.
"The vast majority of people who smoke in America today started when they were teen-agers," Clinton said. "If they don't start smoking when they're in a school yard, it's very likely they never will."
The new federal regulations outlaw cigarette vending machines except in "adult only" environments. Cigarette advertising will be kept out of publications appealing to young readers, and billboards will be banned near schools.
Under federal regulations, tobacco companies must educate teens about the risks of smoking. The rules are to be phased in over two years.
As commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. David Kessler has pushed the regulations. He believes they are reasonable and defensible in court.
"This is a deadly addictive product," Kessler said. "Nicotine is an addictive drug. That's why people smoke. Companies have known this, and they knew it long before we said it was a drug."
Tobacco companies have categorically denied they manipulate nicotine levels to hook customers. They also insist advertising is aimed at adults, not youngsters. And, the industry says the FDA approach will not work.
"What FDA has suggested is not an effective means," said Brennan Dawson of the Tobacco Institute, an industry lobbying group. "Some of these things have been battle-tested and rejected around the world. These are not solid ways to reduce youth smoking."
It will probably take years before the regulations' legality is tested in court. But public health officials believe the rules are a historic step, more important than even the polio vaccine in terms of the potential lives saved.
Related stories:
- Kids, not adults, the focus for cutting tobacco use - Aug. 22, 1996
- Study: Religion helps smokers kick the habit - May 15, 1996
- Patches, gum, boost smokers' chances of quitting - Mar. 17, 1996
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