TY - JOUR

T1 - Smoking behaviours, access to cigarettes and relationships with alcohol in 15- and 16-year-old schoolchildren

AU - Hughes, Sara K

AU - Hughes, Karen

AU - Atkinson, Amanda M

AU - Bellis, Mark A

AU - Smallthwaite, Linda

PY - 2011/2

Y1 - 2011/2

N2 - BACKGROUND: Adolescent smoking is a significant public health concern in the UK and across Europe. This study examines smoking behaviours, methods of accessing cigarettes and use of non-commercial (fake, foreign and single) cigarettes across a sample of schoolchildren. Relationships with alcohol consumption, deprivation, personal income and extra-curricular activities are also explored.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 9833 15- and 16-year-old schoolchildren in the North West of England.RESULTS: Cigarettes were most commonly accessed from off-licences and newsagents, but pupils also reported non-commercial access through friends, family and street sellers/neighbours. A high percentage of smokers had bought foreign (57%), fake (28%) and single (54%) cigarettes. Frequent binge drinking, not participating in extra-curricular activities, receiving greater personal income, and having parents that smoked were significantly associated with being a regular and heavier smoker. Frequent binge drinking was also significantly associated with buying foreign/fake or single cigarettes. A higher percentage of those living in deprived areas were current smokers, although deprivation was not an independent predictor of cigarette use.CONCLUSION: Strategies that restrict commercial access to cigarettes among adolescents may increase their reliance on social methods of access, and use of fake, foreign and single cigarettes. Interventions to reduce adolescent smoking must recognize the critical role of parents and communities in discouraging smoking and preventing social access to cigarettes in children. A joint approach to prevention is required that targets children at risk of smoking, heavy alcohol use and associated health-damaging behaviours.

AB - BACKGROUND: Adolescent smoking is a significant public health concern in the UK and across Europe. This study examines smoking behaviours, methods of accessing cigarettes and use of non-commercial (fake, foreign and single) cigarettes across a sample of schoolchildren. Relationships with alcohol consumption, deprivation, personal income and extra-curricular activities are also explored.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 9833 15- and 16-year-old schoolchildren in the North West of England.RESULTS: Cigarettes were most commonly accessed from off-licences and newsagents, but pupils also reported non-commercial access through friends, family and street sellers/neighbours. A high percentage of smokers had bought foreign (57%), fake (28%) and single (54%) cigarettes. Frequent binge drinking, not participating in extra-curricular activities, receiving greater personal income, and having parents that smoked were significantly associated with being a regular and heavier smoker. Frequent binge drinking was also significantly associated with buying foreign/fake or single cigarettes. A higher percentage of those living in deprived areas were current smokers, although deprivation was not an independent predictor of cigarette use.CONCLUSION: Strategies that restrict commercial access to cigarettes among adolescents may increase their reliance on social methods of access, and use of fake, foreign and single cigarettes. Interventions to reduce adolescent smoking must recognize the critical role of parents and communities in discouraging smoking and preventing social access to cigarettes in children. A joint approach to prevention is required that targets children at risk of smoking, heavy alcohol use and associated health-damaging behaviours.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adolescent Behavior

KW - Alcohol Drinking

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - England

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Parents

KW - Smoking

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckp234

DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckp234

M3 - Article

C2 - 20145050

VL - 21

SP - 8

EP - 14

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

SN - 1101-1262

IS - 1

ER -