Figure 2.1—Illustration shows the average age at which 9th- to 12th- grade students, from 1991 to 2009, smoked a whole cigarette for the first time. Overall, the age remained relatively stable, generally ranging from slightly younger than 13 years old to nearly 14 years old. Each year from 1991 to 2009, males were younger than females at the time either had smoked a whole cigarette for the first time.

Figure 2.1Average age when a whole cigarette was smoked for the first time among 9th- to 12th-grade youth; Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) 1991–2009; United States

Source: 1991–2009 YRBS: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health (unpublished data).

From: 2, The Health Consequences of Tobacco Use Among Young People

Cover of Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults
Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (US) Office on Smoking and Health.
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