5 Amongst women, smoking was more Crizotinib c-Met inhibitor common in the North Eastern states, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, while most other parts of India had prevalence rates of about 4 percent or less. In other reports, ever smoking among the school going 13 to 15-year-olds which was studied as a part of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) study, reported an average of approximately 10 percent of the individuals.6-9 Each day, 55,000 children in India start using tobacco and about 5 million children under the age of 15 are addicted to tobacco. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 1 reported that in India Two in every ten boys and one in every ten girls use a tobacco product. 17.5% were current users of any form of tobacco and current use (defined as use in the past 30 days preceding the survey) ranged from 2.

7% (Himachal Pradesh) to 63% (Nagaland). Many youth have the misconception that tobacco is good for the teeth or health. Starting use of tobacco products before the age of 10 years is increasing. Over one-third (36.4%) were exposed to second-hand smoke (environmental tobacco smoke or ETS) inside their homes. Adolescent-type tobacco use is characterized by being driven by relationships, activities, positive and negative emotions and social ramifications, while adult-type smoking is defined by the dependence on nicotine. Although most youth do not become nicotine dependent until after 2 to 3-years of use, addiction can occur after smoking as few as 100 cigarettes10 or within the first few weeks11.

However, there are unique behavioral and social factors associated with their behavior and unlike adults, nicotine dependence may not be the primary reason reported for smoking12. Personal characteristics of adolescent tobacco users include low self-esteem, low aspirations, depression/anxiety and sensation seeking. This is subsequently associated with poor school performance, school absence, school drop-out, alcohol and other drug use. Teens who smoke are three times more likely to use alcohol and several times more likely to use drugs. Illegal drug use is rare among those who have never smoked13. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess tobacco quit rates among youth attending an urban health center and to determine barriers in quitting tobacco use. Methods A cross sectional study was undertaken in the urban field practice area of Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital during the period of May 2010 to July 2010.

All patients within the age group of 15 to 24 years (youth) were enquired about tobacco use in any form ever (the use of tobacco even once). Out of the total 477 youth patients who attended the urban health centre during the Carfilzomib study period, 133 admitted consuming tobacco and were selected as the study subjects. These subjects were then interviewed face-to-face using a semi-structured questionnaire after obtaining their informed consent.