Number of adolescents that smoke drops

Good News: Nationwide data compiled by AASA reports that the percentage of adolescents who smoke regularly has reached its lowest level since data was first collected. 

In 2011, about 2 percent of 8th-graders reported smoking cigarettes daily, a decline from the peak in 1996, when over 10 percent of 8th-graders reported daily cigarette smoking. 

Similarly, declines in daily smoking were reported for 10th-graders—6 percent in 2011, down from a peak of 18 percent in 1996; and for 12th-graders—10 percent, down from a peak of 25 percent in 1997.

The graph on the left shows the trends in smoking since 1995. In the mid 1990's there were high percentages of children smoking and the rates have been dropping since then. 

The graph on the right shows the trend back to the 1980's. Again, it shows the peak in the mid 1990's and the declines since then.