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According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 4,000 juveniles in the United States will smoke their first cigarette today. About 25 percent of those juveniles will become daily smokers.

A new study has revealed that African-American youths who live in public housing communities are about two times more likely to use tobacco than other African-American youths.

A University of Missouri researcher, Mansoo Yu, in conjunction with researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Boston College and the University of South Carolina surveyed 518 urban African-American youths between the ages of 11 and 20 years old who resided in public housing communities in three large U.S. cities. The survey measured adolescents' attitudes toward tobacco use, depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors.

Yu said these juveniles are more likely to have a positive attitude about using tobacco.

"As previous research suggests, early use of tobacco increases individuals' chances of using more serious drugs later," Yu said. "In addition, early drug use is related to other serious problems, such as delinquent behaviors and family and social problems."

According to Yu, the increased use of tobacco among these juveniles might be because when they live in public housing they might be more likely to be fearful, live around crime problems, have poorer social relationships and have higher levels of psychological strain.

Yu also said tobacco prevention programs should target young children in public housing communities.

"Early interventions are critical for these individuals since the likelihood of being exposed to risky behaviors dramatically increases as the children age," Yu said. "In public housing communities, adolescents may have easier access to drugs and social activities where drugs are used." Smoking cessation programs for young African Americans should focus on reversing their positive attitudes toward tobacco use. In addition, programs should help address the youths' depressive symptoms and keep them from getting involved in delinquent behaviors."

The findings were published in Addictive Behaviors.