Survey: Summer boredom triggers jump in first cigarette use among teens
Jul 9, 2014, 1:10 PM | Updated: 1:10 pm
PHOENIX — A recent survey has shown that there is a bump of teens experimenting with cigarettes in June and July, mostly due to boredom and ample free time over the summer.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health surveyed teens between the ages of 12 and 17 and discovered that more than 4,800 of these smoked cigarettes for the first time on a typical day in June or July.
In other months, the daily average is 3,000.
Less responsibilities combined with peer pressure offers teens the perfect opportunity to experiment with drugs, tobacco or alcohol.
The CIGNAL, Arizona’s anti-smoking program, helps young smokers, educates parents, young adults and teens on how they can avoid being part of these statistics.
It’s important for parents and caregivers to encourage youth to stay busy with jobs, volunteering, free programs or other positive activities.
KTAR’s Martha Maurer contirbuted to this report.
