The CDC study looked at smoking among New Hampshire middle-school students. In 2000, 12 percent of these adolescents smoked. In 2001, cigarette companies raised the wholesale price of cigarettes by 14 cents a pack, increasing the cost from $1.77 per pack to $3.53. Subsequently, the CDC study found, the smoking rate among the students dropped to 6.3 percent.

In addition, the number of high-school students in New Hampshire who smoke dropped from 36 percent in 1995 to 25 percent in 2001.

"That may be partly because younger kids are more sensitive to price increases. You're looking at $3.50 a pack; that may be a substantial amount of money for a seventh- or eighth-grader," said Dr. Andrew Pelletier, a CDC epidemiologist.

Anti-smoking advocates said the study's findings support their claim that raising the tax on cigarettes can deter smoking among adolescents. The New Hampshire tobacco tax has been 52 cents per pack since 1999.

"I think what it shows is that these policies work, and that New Hampshire should really join its neighbors and raise its tax to at least $1," said Cassandra Welch of the American Lung Association.

The CDC researchers added that tobacco-prevention programs have also contributed to the decline in teen smoking.

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