We often hear the statistics on how many teens are using tobacco, but wouldn't you like to know how many teens are quitting?

One hundred eight teens from Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties enrolled in the Panhandle Health District's Teen Tobacco User course between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013. Nearly three-quarters of them had tried to quit at least once prior to taking the course. About 20 of the teens had tried to quit three or more times.

Thirty-nine of the teens in the course had used tobacco for a year or less, but 23 had used tobacco for five to 10 years. Three-quarters of the teens started smoking and/or chewing tobacco between the ages of 11 and 15, but one had started as young as 5.

"When kids start smoking at a very young age, they tell me they grew up in homes with smokers," says Linda Harder, PHD's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program coordinator. "They start by picking up cigarette butts out of the ashtrays."

According to the U.S. Surgeon General's 2013 report, "The younger youth are when they start using tobacco, the more likely they'll be addicted." A study published in Pediatric Adolescent Medicine showed that withdrawal symptoms and failure to quit smoking can occur in adolescents even before they are smoking two cigarettes per day.

The majority of the teens enrolled in the course were smokers only. Most smoked 10 or fewer cigarettes a day, but 26 smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day. Nineteen percent both smoked and chewed tobacco.

"Dual users have such a high intake of nicotine that it's extremely hard to quit," Harder says.

One can of chewing tobacco has about the same amount of nicotine as four packs of cigarettes.

Thirty percent of the teens who took the quit tobacco course last year quit and 52 percent reduced their use. Those numbers are particularly interesting because the majority of course participants are court-ordered to attend and don't necessarily start the class with the intention of quitting tobacco.

Others attend on their own, are encouraged to attend by their parents or tag along with a friend.

At the end of the course, though, every participant said the information was helpful. The activity they rated the most helpful was learning what type of tobacco user they are and the quit techniques that work best for them.

The course's photo activity had a big impact on participants and was their favorite part. Photos of the teens are taken at the start of the course. A computer program morphs the photos, showing how smoking enhances the aging process. Teens also see how they could look if their lower jaw needed to be removed due to chewing tobacco-induced mouth cancer.

Many of the teens enrolled in the course live in a culture of tobacco. They are surrounded by friends and family members who use tobacco.

"In some cases, class participants are smoking or chewing buddies with their parents," Harder says.

To help educate guardians on how they can help teens quit tobacco, PHD now places brochures in the courtroom and at Juvenile Diversion and Juvenile Probation offices. The health district also works with middle and high schools to offer support groups such as Teens Against Tobacco Use, a program of the American Lung Association.

PHD's no-cost Teen Tobacco User courses are offered monthly in Kootenai County at two locations. The Hayden course begins the first Tuesday of each month and continues for three additional weeks. Classes are one hour, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., at the PHD office at 8500 N. Atlas Road.

The Coeur d'Alene course meets at the Harding Family Center, 411 N. 15th St. in Coeur d'Alene. It begins the first Wednesday of each month, continues for three more Wednesdays and meets 3:30-4:30 p.m. To register for either class, call Linda Harder at (208) 415-5143.

Courses also are offered in Shoshone County and Boundary County. A schedule of all Teen Tobacco User courses is on the PHD website, www.phd1.idaho.gov under Classes Scheduled.

Cynthia Taggart is the public information officer for the Panhandle Health District. She can be reached at ctaggart@phd1.idaho.gov.