Approximately what percentage of adults who smoke daily had their first cigarette by age 18?

• A. 90%
• B. 50%
• C. 30%
• D. 10%

Answer: (A)

Starting smoking in adolescence sets a strong trajectory toward daily smoking later on. In fact, about nine in ten adults who smoke daily report having their first cigarette by age 18. This reflects how nicotine exposure during adolescence can more readily establish dependence, and how teens’ social environments and access patterns contribute to rapid progression from trying a cigarette to regular use. Because preventing initiation before 18 can substantially reduce the number of adults who become daily smokers, this statistic underscores the importance of youth-focused prevention efforts. The other options fall short because they underestimate how common early experimentation and progression to daily use are among those who smoke regularly.