TY - JOUR AU - Kessaram, Tara AU - McKenzie, Jeanie AU - Girin, Natalie AU - Roth, Adam AU - Vivili, Paula AU - Williams, Gail PY - 2015 TI - Tobacco Smoking in Islands of the Pacific Region, 2001-2013 T2 - Preventing Chronic Disease JO - Prev Chronic Dis SP - E212 VL - 12 CY - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. N2 - We provide an overview of tobacco smoking patterns in Pacific island countries and territories to facilitate monitoring progress toward the goal of a Tobacco-Free Pacific by 2025. We examined data from 4 surveys conducted in the region between 2001 and 2013, including the STEPwise approach to surveillance for adults (25-64 years); the Global School-Based Student Health Survey and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (students 13-15 years); and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (grade 9-12 students) in United States affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPIs). Adult smoking prevalence ranged from less than 5% of women in Vanuatu to almost 75% of men in Kiribati. Smoking prevalence among students (13-15 years) ranged between 5.6% and 52.1%. There were declines in smoking among youths in many USAPIs. To achieve the tobacco-free goal and reduce disease burden, accelerated action is needed to align national legislation with international agreements and build capacity for tobacco control at all levels. SN - 1545-1151 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.150155 DO - 10.5888/pcd12.150155 ER -