Candy, Fruit-Flavored Cigars a Hit Among Minors: 1 in 12 High School Students Smoke Them

It's no surprise that children and teenagers are attracted to sweet and colorful products. It should come as no surprise then that candy or fruit-flavored little cigars have been a hit among children and are causing more minors to smoke.

According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 30 middle and high school kids say they smoke the compact, candy- or fruit-flavored cigars. The percentages rise as kids get older, to nearly 1 in 12 high school seniors.

The alarming results are based on a 2011 survey of nearly 19,000 students, grades 6 through 12, according to a study published online Tuesday by the Journal of Adolescent Health.

"Flavored or not, cigars cause cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and many other health problems.  Flavored little cigars appeal to youth and the use of these tobacco products may lead to disfigurement, disability, and premature death," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. "We need to take comprehensive steps to reduce all tobacco use for all of our youth."

The study also found that among youth cigar smokers, almost 60 percent of those who smoke flavored little cigars are not thinking about quitting tobacco use, compared with just over 49 percent among all other cigar smokers.

"Little cigars contain the same toxic and cancer-causing ingredients found in cigarettes and are not a safe alternative to cigarettes," said Tim McAfee, MD, MPH, director of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health. "Many flavored little cigars appear virtually indistinguishable from cigarettes with similar sizes, shapes, filters, and packaging."

The small, colorful and sweet-flavored cigars are not only appealing to minors because of its taste and appearance, but also because little cigars are taxed at a lower rate than cigarettes, making them easier to afford.