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Excerpts from: Teens Who Smoke Also More Likely To ...
You Name It: Study Finds Young Smokers Prone To Other Bad-Health Behavior

GlobalTV.com [07/11/00]

             Updated 6:24 p.m. EDT July 11, 2000 -- Teens who smoke are more likely
             than nonsmokers to engage in other unhealthful behaviors as well, according to
             a survey of more than 15,000 adolescent orthodontic patients in Southern
             California.

             A research team surveyed the teenagers for alcohol and
             drug use, generally risky health behavior such as
             infrequent aerobic activity and lack of sleep, and risky
             academic behavior such as getting poor grades or being
             suspended.

             The researchers also surveyed risky dental health behavior such as brushing
             teeth less than twice a day and flossing less than once a day (the minimums
             recommended by the American Dental Association).

             The findings: Study participants who smoked were more likely to engage in
             other risky behaviors.

                 Most smokers reported having used marijuana and alcohol.

                 Nearly half of the oldest male smokers and 70 percent of the oldest
                 female smokers reported exercising less than three times weekly.

                 A majority of the smokers had received poor grades, and more than 40
                 percent of the male smokers had been suspended from or had dropped
                 out of school.

             In general, male survey participants reported higher levels of most risk
             behaviors, although girls were more likely to report insufficient exercise and
             sleep, according to the study. The study results appear in the current issue of
             the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.