Youth tobacco use prevalence rate declines – 10/25/05

Q: We have an opportunity to go for additional state funds for our youth prevention mini-grant program and we need some data fast. We'd like to ask the PMs if they are familiar with any studies that show local youth tobacco use prevalence rate declines in communities over a one year timeframe. We'd love to know the funding required and the types of interventions they used to achieve the decline.

A:

1. Michigan: In Marquette, MI 2,215 students were surveyed in Marquette and neighboring Alger counties and the 30 day smoking rate among high school seniors dropped from 46% in 2000 to 35% in 2002 a 24% reduction. I know your source asked for a one year success story, but that will be difficult to find at the local level. If they want more info I can put your person in contact with Jim Harrington, who has the info about dollars spent and other interventions used in lowering the teen use rate. For more information, contact Janet Kiley.
    
2. Nevada: Here at the Clark County Health District we have data that reflects a decline of youth tobacco use every 2 years, not yearly. For example, when our youth lead anti-tobacco movement Xpoz began the smoking rate was 33% in 1999 then two years later it decreased to 25% in 2001, and currently (2003) its 19%. We are awaiting the YRBS results this winter to tell us if it has continued to decrease. In 6 years we have had approximately $600,000 total to focus on youth tobacco prevention issues. We have 1 or 2 staff members working on this at any given time. The youth members have been instrumental at spreading the message through street marketing. Click to learn more about the coalition.
    
3. Virgin Islands: In the Virgin Islands, the Global Youth Tobacco Survey was utilized to how decline of the use of tobacco products among youth. However the survey is onducted every two years, so the data reflects a two year span. Media campaign, specific training of community youth groups, mini-grant funding to community and middle schools were some of the tools used to achieve this objective.
    
4. West Virginia: My response would be that it is VERY difficult (if not close to impossible) to prove that there is any program that can be instituted by a one-year, local, mini-grant program that can effect prevalence in just one year. West Virginia's recent success in preventing initiation and lowering the use of tobacco products among youth has been the result of a multi-program, collaborative efforts based on research effective programs and Best Practices. However, I know we have some individual programs that have some one year evaluations that show some annual declines (IE- Life Skills, Not On Tobacco, Through With Chew).