Research

Household smoking bans affect youths’ perceptions of smoking
Researchers conducted a survey of 3,831 Massachusetts adolescents (12–17 years) in order to determine perceptions of smoking prevalence and attitudes about the social acceptability of smoking in their community based on whether there was a smoking ban within their household. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported having a household smoking ban, including 49% of youths who lived with smokers. Youths who had a household smoking ban were more likely to perceive a lower adult smoking prevalence and greater adult disapproval of adult smoking and teen smoking. The study was published in the August 2005 issue of Preventive Medicine. Click to view the article.

Exposure to magazines affects smoking rates among high school seniors
A study in the August 2005 issue of Preventive Medicine examines the impact of media exposure on smoking among high school seniors. Exposure to fashion, entertainment, and gossip magazines had an indirect effect on self-reported smoking rates, but television viewing did not have an effect. Researchers found that drive for thinness and tobacco advertising receptivity were both mediators. Click to view the article.

Children of smokers have an increased risk of developing types of cancer
Researchers from Sweden have conducted a clinical study to examine the effects of passive smoking on children of parents who smoke. The study sample included 17,693 mothers and 41,838 fathers with lung cancer. Passive smoking significantly increased the risk of developing nasal cancer and other cancers in children. The article appears in the August 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer. Click for more information.

Smoking cessation approaches among youth
In a study of 3,660 youth smokers who intended to quit smoking, most said that they would never use the smoking cessation approaches that are commonly recommended for youth populations. The approaches that were appealing to them were quitting on their own and using the advice of friends. The study can be found in the September 2005 issue of Addictive Behaviors. Click to view the article.

Preschoolers’ perceptions about cigarettes shaped by parents’ behaviors
According to a study in the September 2005 issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, children two to six years old were nearly four times as likely to choose cigarettes and alcohol when pretending to shop for a social evening if their parents smoked or drank. The study suggests that early exposure to such behaviors through family members, community and social events, and the media may influence attitudes about tobacco use long before children ever consider using those products themselves, indicating a need for prevention efforts targeting younger children. Click to view the abstract or to view more information.

Parental smoking linked to smoking initiation among preteens
An article in the September 2005 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health demonstrates that less parental smoking, more strict family monitoring and rules, and stronger family bonding predicted a significantly lower risk of daily smoking initiation among preteens. Click to view the abstract.

Young children’s perceptions of smoking
An article in the October 2005 issue of Addiction shows second-grade children perceive that others feel that smoking makes them look cool and feel cool and helps them to fit in. By fifth grade, many children believe that smoking can help to reduce stress and alleviate negative mood states. Click to read the complete article.

Risk factors for smoking among youth
A study published in the October 2005 issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research examined data from the 2002 California Tobacco Survey and found that approximately 43% of the young adult population was at risk for future smoking. Previous tobacco experimentation, not having a smoke-free home, and going to bars and clubs were consistently associatied with an increased risk of smoking initiation. Click to view the abstract.

Restaurant smoking bans prevent youth smoking
An article in the October 2005 issue of Tobacco Control shows that local restaurant smoking bans may be an effective intervention to prevent youth smoking. Researchers examined 2623 Massachusetts youths, ages 12–17, and found that youth living in towns with strong regulations (e.g. complete restaurant bans) were far less likely to start smoking than youth in towns with weak regulations. The effect was most pronounced for youth living in towns with strong regulations in place for more than two years. Click to view the abstract.

OSH releases article on adolescent exposure to state-funded tobacco ads
The Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has released an article titled “Estimated Adolescent Exposure to State-Funded Anti-Tobacco Television Advertisements — 37 States and the District of Columbia, 1999–2003” in the October 27th issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The article provides new information on the impact of spending cuts on tobacco-prevention and -control programs. The report summarizes trends in the average number of state-funded anti-tobacco television advertisements to which adolescents aged 12-17 years were exposed per month in 37 states and the District of Columbia during 1999–2003. Click to view the article.

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Americans for Nonsmokers Rights launches website focused on Big Tobacco’s targeting of youth
Americans for Nonsmokers Rights has launched a website containing information on the tobacco industry’s targeting of youth and the critical role that youth can play in campaign efforts. Click to access the site.

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Anti-smoking murals targeting African American youth
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and the Boys & Girls Club sponsored a contest for the best mural to spread messages about the dangers of smoking among teens. Murals from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York were posted for the public to view and vote on. Click for more information.

Teens who dine with mom and dad lower their risk of tobacco use
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University sponsored a study to examine the importance of teens participating in family dinners. Sponsored by TV Land and Nick at Nite, the study, called Family Dinners II, reveals that frequent family dining (considered to be at least five times a week) is associated with lower rates of teen smoking, drinking and drug use. Teens who dine two or less times a week are two and a half times more likely to smoke cigarettes. Click for more information.

truth advertising campaign, Shards O' Glass, takes home Emmy
truth®, the national youth smoking prevention campaign created by the American Legacy Foundation®, won the Emmy in the National Public Service Announcement (PSA) category at The National Television Academy’s Public and Community Service awards ceremony in New York City on Friday, October 21st. Click for more information.

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California:
 
Tobacco sales to youth in California are fewer
The state health director of California has reported illegal sales of tobacco to minors in California are the lowest in ten years. The director credits the state’s anti-tobacco campaigns and local and state tobacco retailer licensing laws for the reduction of the illegal sales. The first Youth Tobacco Purchase Survey was conducted in 1995, when 37% of merchants sold tobacco illegally to minors, which are youth who are age 17 and younger. In 2004, only 14% of merchants made such sales, and this year, 10.2% of the merchants made illegal sales to minors. Click for more information.

Florida:
 
2005 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey results released
The Florida Department of Health has released its 2005 Youth Tobacco Survey results. The survey shows there has been a significant decrease among middle and high school students who have tried smoking since 1998. Click for more information.

Hawaii:
 
Hawaii teens create REAL coalition
What started out five years ago as a single mission to expose and stop the tobacco industry from manipulating youth among 15 Hawaii high school students has grown into a cultural phenomenon and a very successful youth tobacco use prevention coalition. The group is comprised of over 2,000 youth through Hawaii, including over 500 from Kauai. The REAL coalition is an anti-tobacco activist group dedicated to revealing the truth about tobacco promotion that targets youth. REAL is headquartered at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Cancer Research Center. To join REAL, please call 1-808-441-8195, e-mail real@crch.hawaii.edu, or visit the REAL message website. Click for more information.

Iowa:
 
Fewer high school students in Iowa smoking
According to state public health officials in Iowa, fewer high school students are smoking, but the smoking rate among middle school students remain the same.
The state’s Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control has determined that middle school students are not being adequately reached. The youth-based program in Iowa, called Just Eliminate Lies (JEL), has an annual budget of $1.25 million, and includes television and radio spots, print, and advertising, a website, mall kiosks, and point-of-sale anti-smoking messages that are posted at convenience stores and other tobacco retail outlets. Click for more information.

Minnesota:
 
Outcomes of defunding Minnesota youth tobacco prevention program examined
A study conducted by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, NCI, and CDC examined the immediate and intermediate outcome consequences of defunding the Minnesota youth tobacco use prevention program. Researchers found that defunding the program resulted in rapid erosion of program messages, parallel increases in susceptibility, a rapid and sharp re-emergence of pro-tobacco attitudes/beliefs and a marked rise in intentions to smoke. Click to view the abstract.

New Jersey:
 
New Jersey may raise legal age for tobacco purchase to 19
Acting New Jersey Governor Codey plans to introduce legislation to raise the state's legal age for buying tobacco products to 19 from 18. The legislation would make New Jersey the fourth state in the country to prohibit sales of cigarettes to 18-year-olds, joining Alabama, Alaska and Utah. Codey recently passed a statewide ban on smoking in all college dormitories. Click for more information on the potential legislation.

New Mexico:
 
Illegal sales of tobacco to minors in New Mexico decrease
New Mexico has reduced its illegal tobacco sales rate from 14.8% last fiscal year to 6.4% percent this fiscal year, ranking the state in the top ten for reduction of tobacco sales to youth. Click for more information.

South Dakota:
 
South Dakota State University’s rodeo team has banned sponsorship by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
Over the past 15 years, SDSU rodeo students have received approximately $25,000 in scholarship funds from the company. Team members, many of whom are nurses, chose to give up the sponsorship because they wanted to promote a healthier image. The university has made up the lost funds through a fund-raising auction called Steers for State. Click for more information.

Washington:
 
Unique Washington youth prevention campaign launched October 3rd
The Washington State Department of Health’s 2005-06 youth prevention television and radio advertising campaign kicked off statewide October 3rd. A micro Web site to complement the campaign, www.ashtraymouth.com, also launched October 3rd and print ads and other media will be released in the coming weeks. The new campaign features the social consequences of smoking – a departure from previous strategies aimed at the physical dangers of tobacco use. Exploratory research, gathered from focus groups and on-the-street interviews conducted with youth around the state, showed that youth know about the health consequences of smoking, but are mostly concerned about peer relationships. The new campaign has no live actors in the TV spots, instead using state-of-the-art technology called stop-motion animation. Click to view the ads. For more information, contact Scott Schoengarth at 360-236-3634 or scott.schoengarth@doh.wa.gov.

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