Teenagers whose mothers smoke are three times more likely to smoke cigarettes themselves, compared to children whose mothers abstain, according to a new study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Only 9 percent of teenagers smoke tobacco.
- However, among teens whose mothers smoke, that rate is almost 17 percent.
- Teens whose mothers do not use cigarettes have an 5.8 percent smoking rate.
"We were a little surprised that the results were that high," said Fran Harding, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. "The percentages of teen smoking have been going down and this is showing us a recent increase."
Teens whose mothers suffered from a major episode of depression within the last year are twice as likely to take up smoking compared to teenagers not in that situation. The rate of smoking among teens with depressive mothers is 14.3 percent.
Labels: mothers, tobacco, influences, smoking
Posted By: Jane St. Clair