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Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Smokers Start Early

Troubling news emerged last month from the first national survey of smoking and other tobacco use among middle schoolers. The survey found that 1 in every 8 middle school students has used a tobacco product, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes and cigars.

The survey was sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Legacy Foundation. It also looked at tobacco use in high schools, where 28% of students say they have smoked in the past month. Although that rate is 8% lower than in the previous survey, in 1997, "that's not good enough," says Ron Todd of the American Cancer Society. "More than 1 in 4 children in high school is smoking."

More bad news: lots of kids are smoking imported cigarettes with sweet flavors. Experts say these are very unhealthy because they produce even more smoke and tar than plain cigarettes.

Next: One Tall Tree