Research

Under the radar: Smokeless tobacco advertising in magazines with substantial youth readership
Researchers who examined tobacco industry documents found that youths are often exposed to smokeless tobacco advertisements in magazines.  This study analyzed magazine readership of both youth-oriented and adult magazines with smokeless tobacco advertisements.  The study concludes that the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement has not brought about any significant changes in the amount of smokeless tobacco advertising directed toward teens. Click here to find out more.

Understanding teen attitudes critical to quit message
An international review of studies on smoking among adolescents examined reasons for tobacco use, peer influences, and youths’ attitudes about addiction. The researchers found that teasing and bullying do not seem to play a major role in many teens’ initiation of smoking.  Instead, the more subtle desire to fit in with peers seems to be more influential on teens’ desire to smoke.  Also, teens report that they often find ways around strict laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors, so laws of this type with large enforcement costs may not be cost-effective.  Read a summary of the findings here. Click here to view the abstract for the article, published in Substance Use and Misuse.

Computerized program helps teens quit smoking
Research trials of a computer-based smoking cessation tool for teenagers have made researchers hopeful that this inexpensive and effective tool may help teenagers quit smoking.  Teenagers who used the Computerized Adolescent Smoking Cessation Program (CASCP) were more likely to attempt to quit smoking than a control group who did not use the CASCP.  Users of CASCP had a 23% cessation rate, and many of those who did not quit smoking were able to lower their nicotine dependence.  To learn more about the study, click here.

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Reports

Bill bans lighting up in public if under 19
If a new bill passes in the New Jersey Senate, the law will become tougher on teens who smoke in public.  The age to buy cigarettes in New Jersey was recently raised to 19, but there is currently no law to deal with underage teens who smoke.  The new law would allow police to issue warnings to teens who smoke, and repeat offenders would be punished with community service and fines.  The pending bill began as a project in a high school class, and the students’ petition led to strong support in the State Assembly.  Click here to get more information on this new youth-supported prevention policy.

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International

Child nicotine patches approved
The British National Health Service (NHS) has issued guidelines to allow children 12 and up to receive nicotine patches “when there is clear evidence of nicotine dependence.”  While the statement recommends that teens under 18 do not receive cessation drugs, the NHS suggests that teen smokers receive cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.  The new guidelines are especially important because the minimum age to buy cigarettes was just raised from 15 to 18 last year, and because smoking is the main cause of premature and preventable deaths in England.  Find out more here.

Tobacco warning for India's young
The results of a survey of 12,000 students and 3,000 school staff in India showed that while national public smoking ban has decreased secondhand smoke by 10%, unfortunately, 17% of students 15 and under are tobacco users.  Also, while teachers are supposed to be role models to discourage smoking, over a third of school staff uses tobacco.  The researchers commend the Indian government on some encouraging health improvements brought on by legislation and awareness campaigns, but they also report that there is still much to be done to discourage tobacco use among youths.  The study information was obtained from the Global Youth Tobaco Survey, conducted by the World Health Organization with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Click here to learn more about the study.

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