Cigarette smoking by high school students is declining, but the most recent recorded drop is not significant, according to the National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Data for 2011 show the rate dipped to 18 per cent from 19 per cent in 2009, the CDC said in a statement on 7 June. “Cigarette use did not change significantly between 2009 and 2011”, the CDC said.  Marijuana use among high schoolers was more prevalent than use of cigarettes, at 23 per cent in 2011. (ci)