The 2005 Health Barometer recently provided an overview of trends in smoking among the general population. The 2005 Escapad survey (a survey on health and substance use conducted during the national defense preparation call-up) focuses specifically on 17-year-olds. Escapad surveys a sample of participants in the national defense preparation call-up day (JAPD) in mainland France and in the overseas departments and communities (DOM-COM). It provides a detailed description of illicit and legal drug use, particularly tobacco use, among a specific age group (17-year-olds). Since 2000, it has made it possible to observe trends and conduct robust regional comparisons. (Introduction)