Research

R-rated movies, bedroom televisions, and initiation of smoking by white and black adolescents
A new study reveals that among white adolescent, high relative exposure to R-rated movies and private access to television predicted a significantly greater likelihood of smoking initiation. No such associations were observed between the two variables and smoking initiation among black adolescents. The study, released in the Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, followed over 700 adolescents between 12 and 14 years of age over a 2 year period. Click here to read the study abstract.

Factors related to adolescents’ estimation of peer smoking prevalence
New research reveals some of the factors that lead to adolescents’ overestimation of peer smoking prevalence. Two surveys of over 20,000 students revealed that important factors of overestimation of peer smoking rates included: grade, gender, close friends’ smoking, seeing smoking at school, family members’ smoking, smoking in the home, and smoking status. Click here to read the abstract of the study published in the journal Health Education Research.

Hookah use – 1st new tobacco use trend of the 21st century – carries many of the same health risks as cigarette smoking
The American Lung Association released a report about the serious risks associated with hookah use. Hookah bars are growing in popularity, especially among college aged youth. The report seeks to dispel the myth that hookah use is harmless by emphasizing that hookah smoking carries many of the same risks as cigarette smoking, including lung cancer and other lung diseases. The report looks at existing research on hookah use, highlighting the increased exposure to dangerous chemicals through hookah use and the fact that teens were eight times more likely to experiment with cigarettes if they had ever used hookah. Click here to read the American Lung Association report and here to read the press release.

More than 1.8 million college students smoke, new CASA research reports
A report released recently reveals that more than 1.8 million full-time college students are smokers. The report, written by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), suggests that the rate of youth smoking may be on the rise across the country. Some suggest the state tobacco-prevention program budget cuts as a possible explanation for these findings. Click here to read the American Legacy Foundation press release.

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