Many American teenagers mistakenly perceive light or intermittent smoking as not being harmful, according to a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 24,000 adolescents who participated in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Participants were asked to rank the riskiness of having a few cigarettes every day (light), having cigarettes some days but not every day (intermittent) and smoking numerous cigarettes every day (heavy).
The researchers found roughly 88 percent of teens said they believed that heavy daily smoking (more than five cigarettes a day) was very harmful. Only 64 percent reported being confident that light smoking (less than five cigarettes a day) was very harmful.
Only 33 percent were confident intermittent smoking (smoking on a non-daily basis during the prior month) is very harmful. In fact, roughly a quarter of the teens surveyed believed intermittent smoking isn't harmful at all.
Lead author of the study Stephen Amrock told U.S. News that the teen's couldn't be further from the truth.
"Social smoking has a price and even the occasional cigarette truly is bad for you. Light and intermittent smokers face tremendous future health risks," said Mr. Amrock.
Additionally, findings suggest that males, younger adolescents, and ethnic minorities are particularly susceptible to believing light and intermittent smoking are not very harmful.
"These findings should prompt further investigation and public health attention to redress widespread misconceptions that light and intermittent smoking are a safer alternative," according to the study.
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