The Scottish Government has published the latest data on trends in smoking and e-cigarette use among adolescents aged 13 and 15 years as a part of the 2018 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS).
Key findings from the report are as follows:
- Eighty-seven per cent of 13-year-olds and 70 per cent of 15-year-olds reported that they had never smoked.
- Two per cent of 13-year-olds and seven per cent of 15-year-olds were regular smokers.
- Although the prevalence of smoking has significantly declined over time, no statistically significant change has been observed between 2015 and 2018.
- Among 15-year-olds, the mean age of having smoked for the first time was 13 years and 5 months.
- Seventeen per cent of 13-year-olds and 35 per cent of 15-year-olds reported having ever used an e-cigarette.
- Ever use or regular use of e-cigarettes was more likely in smokers than in non-smokers among both the age groups.
- Among regular smokers of both the age groups, the most common source of getting cigarettes was asking someone else to buy them and being given them.
- Nineteen per cent of 13-year-olds and 45 per cent of 15-year-olds thought it was 'ok' for someone of their age to try smoking.
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