Maryland's First Annual Tobacco Study found significant declines in cigarette smoking in Baltimore, state officials announced yesterday.

The report - based on a telephone survey - found that the percentage of adults in Baltimore who smoke cigarettes declined from 28.3 percent in 2000 to 23.6 percent this year.

It also found that attempts by adults to quit smoking increased from 47.5 percent in 2000 to 53.7 percent this year.

The 2000 data is based on a different survey completed that year.

The new report is based on interviews with 3,500 adults in Baltimore and Montgomery County, and it also examined smoking among Maryland youths.

The youth portion found that students in alternative schools are much more likely to smoke than those in regular public schools.