Young and Hooked on Cigs

Every day in the United States nearly 5,000 11- to 17-year-olds try their first cigarette, and about 2,000 of them become regular smokers, according to a new study.

The number rises to 5,500 new smokers a day when 18- to 20-year-olds are added. About 1,000 of them become regular smokers, said UC San Diego researchers.

These numbers were based on a national telephone survey of more than 10,000 young people.

Regular smokers were considered to be those who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their lives--the group most likely to continue smoking for at least 16 to 20 years.

The researchers published their study in the October issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.