Poll: Child Smoking Worries Adults Most

(WebMD)  Adults' top concerns about U.S. children are smoking, teen drug abuse, and childhood obesity, a new poll shows.

The National Poll on Children's Health included a nationally representative group of 2,076 adults. Knowledge Networks conducted the poll in March for the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

Participants were asked to rate 17 different health concerns for children living in their communities.

Here are their top 10 concerns and the percentage of participants rating each concern as a "big problem." Participants could use the "big problem" rating more than once.

Smoking: 40 percent

Teen drug abuse: 39 percent

Childhood obesity: 34 percent

Teen alcohol abuse: 33 percent

Driving accidents: 29 percent

Teen pregnancy: 28 percent

Internet safety: 26 percent

School violence: 24 percent

Sexually transmitted infection: 24 percent

Abuse and neglect: 22 percent

"Of note, ratings for the top 10 list did not differ between adults who have children in their households and those who do not," states the poll report.

The poll's seven other health concerns were psychological stress, depression, eating disorders, suicide, autism, childhood cancer, and food contamination.

Ratings varied somewhat. For instance, black adults rated teen pregnancy as the top health concern, while adults with college degrees were more likely than those with no college degree to rate childhood obesity as a top concern.

By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang, M.D.
© 2007, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved

[rushman71]

I am a smoker trying to quit. I've done it before, and I will keep trying until I get it right--permanently. My mother has smoked since she was 13, and still does. This concerned my brother and I, so she went and got her lungs checked out. Her lungs (to our relief) were clear. She smokes those Capri Menthols, which is almost like smoking air. But our concern still lies towards our mother. It is very hard to quit, especially when your friends smoke. I smoked Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Now, I am on the patch again. Wish me luck!!!!!

[michellem99-2009]

I would love to see our nation's kids not smoke ever.When I was in high school years ago, a gentleman visited our school and talked what smoking to him. He lost his voice box and used a device so he could talk to us.
My late Uncle smoked. Being 9 at the time,I asked*Uncle why do you smoke?* He answered back*I had half my lung taken out.Uncle don't want you to smoke*. That what I rememer. I never have smoked.
My room-mate of 24 years smoked for years. Had a heart attack in 00&01.He has heart & lung problems,diabetes problems relating to diabetes etc. Smoking caused all of it. So he quit cold turkry.
I love my Dad,he smoked for years, he could not climb the stairs as was fighting for aire. Now he is on oxyzen 24/7. He had to quit to live.
It is heart breaking to see those I love suffer due to years of smokimg.I sent my friend when he did smoke out side you go. Smoking make me sick.I hate smoking. I hate 2ed smoke. Don't start .

[highthis]

The teens need some thing for them,but figure it out that it is bad for you and that is there choice.