[Tobacco addiction of the young French male and his military service (author's transl)].

73% of the young males beginning their military service smoke. Chiefly cigarettes, but also pipes and cigars; 29% began smoking before 15 years of age and have increased their consumption since they started, especially those who quit school at fifteen. The military service now plays but a minimum role in inciting, smoking habits in young men (4%). The increase in consumption is frequent (59% of smokers), mostly due to the conditions of the individuals existence. Environmental initiation and the sale of tobacco at a reduced price are negligible motives. Reactions of the anti-smoking campaign were generally positive. One quarter of the smokers feel that they are now better informed. Two thirds have indicated that they would like to cut down on their tobacco consumption. Only a quarter of these have progressed from intention to action. Such diffusion of anti-tobacco information is useful in that it leads to reflection. But it is clearly during elementary and at the beginning of secondary school that anti-smoking campaigns have the greatest effect.