Sixty-five percent of young women smokers aged 16 to 24 want to quit smoking, but only 3 percent succeeded in quitting for at least a year, according to new data from the American Legacy Foundation.

The data show that 83 percent of young women smokers believe they can quit smoking and that 60 percent tried to quit at least once in 2002.

"The research sheds new light on the lack of smoking cessation programs designed for young people who want to quit," foundation spokespersons said.

The new findings included the following statistics:

• 25 percent of young women age 16 to 24 smoked in 2002.

• 65 percent of young women who smoke said they were thinking of quitting within six months.

• 83 percent of young women believed they could stop smoking if they wanted to quit.

• 60 percent of young women age 16 to 24 tried to quit during the previous year.

• 25 percent of young women smokers succeeded for more than a week but less than one month and 28 percent quit for one to six months.

• 6 percent succeeded in not smoking for more than six months, but relapsed before the end of the year.

• Among young women who tried to quit in the previous year, only 3 percent succeeded in quitting for at least a year.

• Girls age 12 to 19 are more likely than boys to attempt to quit smoking (31 percent versus 24 percent).

"This compelling data show that young people continue to underestimate the dangers of tobacco use, trapping many in a life of addiction, tobacco-related illness and premature death," said Dr. Cheryl Healton, foundation president and CEO. "It is encouraging that so many young women want to quit smoking, but it is tragic that so many are not successful."

Healton added that the "dismal rate of success in quitting shows that we have much work to do to ensure that anyone who wants to quit smoking can quit smoking."

Other research shows that 90 percent of all adult smokers began smoking before they were 19 years old, she noted.