[Tobacco consumption among high school students. Preliminary results from a survey in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico].

Background: Tobacco consumption constitutes a public health problem among adolescents. National addiction surveys in Mexico have documented a growing trend in this habit over the years.

Objective: Describe the prevalence of tobacco consumption among a sample of high school students sample in Tampico, Tamaulipas and identify socio-demographic variables.

Methods: Students enrolled in the 2006-2007 school year attending 31 schools located in this county were surveyed. The sample was probabilistic, stratified and random. Students were the sampling units. We used a standardized questionnaire.

Results: 5,060 students were surveyed, 50.99% were female, mean age was 13.5 +/- 1 range 11-17. 66.7% started tobacco consumption between the ages of 13- 14, 28.5% (CI 27.2-29.8) had smoked once in their lives, 17% (CI 15.9-18.5) in the last twelve months and 9% (CI 18.2-9.8) in the last thirty days. A small percentage (7.2%) believed smoking was not dangerous and 1.6% of smokers meet the criteria for nicotine dependence.

Conclusions: We recommend to increase prevention programs targeted at high-risk groups such as adolescents.