Survey on family and friends, suppliers in underage smoking and drinking

According to a Canadian study, many underage smokers and drinkers get their cigarettes and alcohol from family or friends. Researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto surveyed more than 9,000 students in grades seven to 12 from different parts of Ontario, focusing on those who smoked or drank alcohol. Of those who smoked, 58% said they got their last cigarette from a friend or family member. Meanwhile, 19% said they got their last cigarette at a corner store, grocery store, gas station or bar. 26% of males said they were more likely to get cigarettes from these sources, compared with 10% of females. 73% of females said they got their last cigarette from a friend or family member, compared with 46% of males. “Despite efforts to curb youth smoking and prevent youth alcohol use, the survey tells us that youth are still able to easily access these substances, often from the very people who should be looking out for their well-being”, survey principal investigator Dr. Robert Mann, a senior scientist at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, said in a center news release.