Source: Oakland Tribune Contact: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 Author: Victoria Hudson, Staff Writer Page 1 RACE DIVIDES TEEN-AGE SMOKERS Smoking among black high school students continues to lag behind teen smoking in other racial groups, despite an overall increase in the national youth smoking rate from 25 percent in 1991 to 33 percent today. The trend is most pronounced among high school girls, where statistics show white students are more than three times as likely to smoke than their black counterparts, according to a 1995 federal survey showing smoking rates of 40 percent and 12 percent, respectively. There are many reasons for the disparity, say local and federal researchers, who mostly cite attitude differences for the ever-burgeoning gap. White teen-age girls usually start smoking for weight control and personal empowerment, especially in relation to men and boys, they say. On the other hand, researchers say, black high school girls tend to hold extremely negative views of smoking, believing it adversely affects their lives and is disrespectful to parents. "When I talk to young African-American youth, smoking is a 'white thing.' It's just what they do," said Sylvia Jimenez, project director of the Alameda County Public Health Department Tobacco Control Program. Jimenez joined Serena Chen, public affairs director with the American Lung Association of Alameda County, in saying that thin girls are more valued and accepted among Caucasians than in other ethnic groups, so white girls often feel greater pressure to watch their weight. "It's cultural," Jimenez said. "With Hispanic girls it's also the same thing. Latin women are not held to that same standard. Women with more meat on their bones are more attractive, just like with the black culture." Local teen-agers, however, have their own reasons for the disparities between white and black female high school smokers. They said, and state surveys support them, that in general smoking has lost its appeal among most California teen-agers, 91.1 percent of whom would rather date a nonsmoker, according to surveys by the Tobacco Control Section of the state Department of Health. Even former young smokers such as Piedmont High School juniors Elisabeth Watson, 17, and Meredith Cole, 16, consider smoking a "disgusting habit" and something that's more acceptable among the "unpopular" students. They, like McClymonds High School seniors Letitia Henderson and Lesha Tyler, say today's high schoolers are more apt to smoke marijuana than cigarettes. Many experts consider tobacco use to be the main pathway to illegal drug use. "Alcohol is not the level of 'gateway drug as tobacco." Ralph Cantor, coordinator with the Alameda County Tobacco Prevention and Safe, Drug Free Schools program. said. "Tobacco is the No. One gateway drug," said Cantor, who has worked on substance abuse issues for almost 20 years. Students of all races have told him they smoke cigarettes to enhance a marijuana high, Cantor said. And many smoke because they have nothing else to do. Peer pressure, stress and relaxation were other reasons cited by local teen-agers, and in surveys of youth ages 12 to 17 conducted by the California Department of Health Tobacco Control Section. According to that data, white teen-agers showed the greatest increase in smoking rates, up from 10.6 percent in 1990 to 14.1 percent last year. The rate for Hispanic youths grew from 9.3 percent in 1990 to 11.7 percent in 1995, then dropping to 10.4 percent last year. During the same period, the rate for young black smokers dropped from 4.5 percent to 2.9 percent. It reached a high of 6 percent in 1992. Despite extensive education campaigns, smoking rates among young people continue to climb, especially for females. And a new law effective January punishable by a $75 fine in California for any minor to possess tobacco, will do little to deter future and current smokers, said April Roeseler of the state health department. Roeseler cited peer role models, advertisements, promotional materials, economics and parental influence among factors contributing to black teens having the lowest smoking rate among any ethnic group, both nationally and statewide. Local high school students offered other reasons. "Guys don't like us if we smoke," Henderson said. "African-American students will smoke marijuana over cigarettes. We don't think smoking is cool at our school. We look at it as something that will kill you and harm you. But marijuana is supposed to heal you. It's a high and won't hurt you in the long run."