Development trends of first cigarette smoking experience of children: the Bogalusa heart study.

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Abstract
Description of 1st smoking experience might provide insight to prevention. During 1 school year a health habits survey investigated cigarette smoking behavior in a total biracial population of children, ages 8-17 yr old. Information was collected concerning each child''s first smoking experience. Over 60% of the children reported they were given their first cigarettes. Half of those starting before age 12 smoked their first cigarettes with a family member or an older friend. The smoking habit appears to have become established by age 14, with a 2 yr gap between initiation and maintenance.