This story brought a smile to my face as we all know that Joel has devoted a large chunk of his life to helping Chicago area youth "get" the true scoop on smoking nicotine. We hope it made you smile too, Joel!


Chicago

City Health Department Reports
Steep Decline in Youth Smoking

Lowest Smoking Rate Ever Among Youth in Chicago

Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) officials announced today that cigarette smoking among young people has dropped sharply since 1998 and now stands at the lowest levels seen since youth smoking statistics have been compiled.

In a 2003 survey of Chicago public high school students, 16.9 percent reported that they are smokers, down dramatically from 26.8 percent in 1997. The steepest decline came among non-Hispanic black youth, with rates more than cut in half: 24.9 percent in 1997, 11.2 percent in 2003.

Smoking during pregnancy also is at an all-time low.

"This news is most encouraging and shows that prevention efforts are on the right track," stated CDPH Commissioner John Wilhelm, M.D. "Yet this is no time to rest on our laurels. Significant challenges remain. At least 4,000 Chicagoans die every year as a result of cigarette smoking, and that's not counting those whose deaths were caused at least in part by secondhand smoke. We need to ensure that prevention efforts continue."

The news is part of a report, "The Epidemiology of Cigarette Smoking in Chicago," released at today's meeting of the Chicago Board of Health. The document is an update of a report that CDPH epidemiologists compiled and released in 1998. Paper copies of the report may be obtained by calling (312) 747-9809, and is also available electronically in PDF format (pdf 400k).

http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Health/PressReleases/PR2004/Smoking.8.18.04.html