1.   In both of these studies the control group, hospital inpatients and community controls, had unusually high smoking rates.

2.   Smoking rates in schoolchildren need to be drastically reduced and the recession has its effects.

3.   Although California has the second-lowest smoking rate in the nation, behind Utah, the teenage smoking rate has begun to climb.

4.   Among older gay men, the smoking rate was lowest.

5.   And he added that there were so few studies on youth smoking rates and price that any estimate was a guess.

6.   And there have been regular, statistically rigorous reviews to determine whether all the efforts really make a difference on smoking rates.

7.   Another top priority -- making sure that teen smoking rates are cut sharply.

8.   As for the health groups and President Clinton, they say their primary goal after FDA regulation is insuring that smoking rates by teenagers drop.

9.   A spokeswoman for Blue Cross said the insurer had reviewed the issue and decided the money would be best spent on reducing future smoking rates and associated health costs.

10.   But he said that the smoking rate for young whites is four to five times higher than it is for young blacks.