A Review of Policies to Prevent Children From Smoking (pdf)

oday, most people try their first cigarette and become regular smokers as children. In Wisconsin, 83 percent of young adults (25 to 34 years) tried their first cigarette and 62 percent became regular smokers before they were 18 years old (Table 1). The percentage who begin smoking as children has increased dramatically over the last 50 years. This explains why smoking is now considered a “pediatric disease.”