11.   But others see the tax as an opportunity for the government to make money at the expense of the poor, while only marginally affecting smoking rates.

12.   Cigarette manufacturers are increasingly targeting foreign markets, especially Asian women, for their products at a time when U.S. smoking rates are declining.

13.   Despite a drop in smoking rates among adults overall, various surveys have found an increasing percentage of youngsters, particularly white youngsters, picking up the habit.

14.   Even as California enjoys the second-lowest smoking rate among adults in the nation, Anna is one of a rising number of youths picking up the habit.

15.   Experts agree that unless significant changes are made in areas like price and advertising, youth smoking rates will not decline.

16.   Experts believe it and similar hard-edged ads are one of the reasons smoking rates have fallen over all in California in recent years.

17.   Financially, the biggest test for the industry will be the effect of recent price increases on smoking rates.

18.   For years, public health officials have touted low smoking rates among black teen-agers as a hopeful sign that at least some young people were shunning cigarettes.

19.   Further, the smoking rate among teen-agers is leveling off in California, while it continues to rise in most other states.

20.   Given the new data on smoking rates, any deal accepted by the attorneys general must make reducing teen smoking its primary goal.