Cigarette Brand Preference and Pro-Tobacco Advertising among Middle and High School Students–United States, 2012-2016

February 16, 2018 / Vol. 67 / No. 4

MMWR Introduction

Nearly all adult smokers first try cigarettes before age 18, and adolescents can show symptoms of nicotine dependence within days to weeks of the onset of occasional cigarette smoking. Having a usual cigarette brand among adolescent smokers could reflect exposure and receptivity to pro-tobacco advertising and tobacco product appeal. To identify usual cigarette brands smoked among US middle and high school students who were current (past 30-day) cigarette smokers, CDC analyzed data from the 2012–2016 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).

Information on cigarette brand usually smoked can help guide efforts to reduce cigarette smoking among the more than 1.6 million US youth cigarette smokers. Reducing youth-oriented tobacco marketing, as part of a comprehensive approach, in concert with other evidence-based strategies, could help reduce the acceptability, affordability, and use of tobacco products among youths.

MMWR Highlights

Most commonly smoked brand among middle school students who were current cigarette smokers, overall, 2016

• Marlboro-38.3%
• Newport-21.4%
• Camel-13.4%
• Other-16.5%
• No usual brand-10.4%

Most commonly smoked brand among middle school students who were current cigarette smokers, by race/ethnicity, 2016

• Marlboro was highest among non-Hispanic white students (54.6%).
• Newport was highest among non-Hispanic black students (58.4%).

Most commonly smoked brand among high school students who were current cigarette smokers, overall, 2016

• Marlboro-48.8%
• Newport-16.6%
• Camel-13.3%
• Other-15.4%
• No usual brand-5.9%

Most commonly smoked brand among high school students who were current cigarette smokers, by race/ethnicity, 2016

• Marlboro was highest among non-Hispanic white students (59.5%).
• Newport was highest among non-Hispanic black students (47.5%).