While the rate of heavy, regular smoking has gone down in the USA among teenagers, more of them are smoking casually, researchers reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

While heavy smoking among teens dropped from 18% to 8% between 1991 and 2009, casual smoking rose from 67% to 79% during the same period, the authors informed. According to the survey data, no significant smoking changes were detected among African-American teenagers. However, heavy smoking among teenage Hispanics rose from 3.1% to 6.4%

The authors defined heavy smoking as more than 11 cigarettes per day, moderate smoking 6 to 10 per day, and light smoking from 1 to 5. The researchers say the fall in heavy smoking among teens is mainly due to better awareness about its dangers.

Nevertheless, they added that casual (occasional) smoking also has health risks.

The authors believe that young people are adapting to smoke free environments and only smoking when they are allowed to.

Co-author, Dr. Terry Pechachek, said to Reuters:

“We’re seeing a broad national phenomenon. We may be creating a new type of smoker that may be more durable, that are adapting to smoke-free environments and to changing social norms.”

Awareness needs to improve regarding the dangers to health of casual smoking.

They gathered data on pupils in grades 9 through 12 who took part in the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, which included questions about smoking habits and health.

Light smoking can triple the risk of ischemic heart disease, according to a 2005 study in Circulation. Other health risks are also greater for light smokers, including heart attack and dying from an aneurysm. Light smoking also raises the risk of lung cancer, and some other cancers.

Co-author John Frohna, M.D., said:

“I have noticed more teenagers seem be smoking just a few cigarettes per day. I do think there are fewer kids in my practice who are smoking heavily, but I remain concerned that they are smoking at all. We need to continue to reinforce the message that any smoking is unsafe. We also need to ensure strong enforcement of laws against selling cigarettes to children.”

Written by Christian Nordqvist