Why do kids really smoke? It's not because of what a tobacco company does, but rather because of what kids' friends do. Sociologists, child psychologists, and other experts agree that peer influence, the need to establish independence, and lack of parental involvement are the main reasons kids smoke. As young people try to shape their own identities, they face tremendous pressures. They copy hairstyles, clothing, and behaviors, including smoking. They want to do what their …showed first 75 words of 2379 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2379 total…as the environment is supporting the behavior youth will continue to engage in smoking and tobacco use. Appendix I Current Cigarette Smoking Among Middle and High School Students by Race/Ethnicity National Youth Tobacco Survey, 1999 (CDC, 2001) Trends in Current Cigarette Smoking Among High School Seniors, by Race United States, 1977-1998 Center for Disease Control - Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future Project (Smoking 1 or more cigarettes during the previous 30 days) (CDC, 2001)