‘Very Light Smoking’ a Growing Trend in Young Women, Study Says
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iStock/Thinkstock(AUSTIN, Texas) — “Very light” smoking — fewer than five cigarettes per day — appears to be growing in popularity among women in their teens and early 20s, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin collected data from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health in the U.S. and consisted of 9,789 women 18-25 years old.
They found that almost a fifth of all of these participants — including many who don’t call themselves smokers at all — and more than half of those who call themselves current smokers were “very light” smokers. They also found that these women showed less signs of nicotine dependence and were more likely to quit.
The researchers said the findings suggest that more smoking cessation efforts should be directed at this age group, as even light smoking can be harmful, especially considering the special risks of smoking for women in their reproductive years.
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