Cigarette smoking in Cree Indian school children of the James Bay region.

A survey of cigarette smoking habits of Cree Indian school children in the James Bay region of northern Quebec was carried out. Out of 689 questionnaires completed by students in grades 6 through Secondary V (approximately ages 11 through 18), 13.2% were nonsmokers, 35.4% were exsmokers, and 51.4% were current smokers. 65% of the smokers were daily smokers and they averaged 7 cigarettes per day. Factors positively associated with being a current smoker were age, female sex, having a mother who smoked, and having a best friend who smoked.