Research

Waterpipe smoking on college campuses may contribute to growing public health problem
A study of waterpipe tobacco smoking on college campuses found that this growing trend may present a health hazard. A cross-sectional survey of first-year college students aged 18-21 found that 43% of the students had smoked tobacco in a waterpipe in the past year, and 20% had used one in the past month. Those who had used waterpipes were more likely than nonusers to incorrectly believe that waterpipes are less harmful than other tobacco products. Read more here. The study is published in the May 2008 print issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health; click here for the abstract.

Eateries' smoking ban is dissuading teens
Banning smoking in restaurants affects the prevalence of teen smoking, according to a study that looked at youths’ smoking habits over time as restaurant smoking bans were implemented. Adolescents aged 12-17 were surveyed on their smoking habits in 2001, prior to the implementation of any statewide smoking restrictions in Massachusetts.  Four years later, youths who lived in localities that had aggressive restaurant smoking bans were 40% less likely to be smokers (after adjusting for sociodemographic factors) than those in areas that did not have smoke-free laws. The researchers speculate that teens may develop different social norms regarding smoking when they observe adults whom they respect smoking, since youths in areas without strong bans were more likely to believe that smoking is socially acceptable. Click here for a summary of the research. Click here to view the abstract of the article, which is published in the May 2008 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

Cool kids can help others avoid smoking: study
A recent study showed evidence that when an influential young person delivers anti-tobacco messages to their peers, the information sticks. In the study, 12- and 13-year-olds elected a peer that they regarded as influential to take part in a training program on the dangers of smoking. The elected students became “peer supporters” in a tobacco prevention program. Students in schools with the experimental peer-support program were 23% less likely to start smoking after a year than students in schools with conventional anti-smoking programs. The protective effect against smoking was similar among both the peer supporters and the non-peer supporters. The research was published in the May 10, 2008 issue of The Lancet. Click here to learn more.

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Reports

Florida turns to freebies, Web for anti-smoking campaign (FL)
The Florida Department of Health has launched a major assault on smoking. With its largest budget in a decade, there has been heavy television, radio, and billboard promotion of the Florida QuitLine, which offers free nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges to callers.  To target youths, the state has released an antismoking-themed comic book featuring the Justice League, from DC Comics, and the Palm Beach health department has worked to involve teen anti-smoking groups in activism across the country. Florida’s new campaign also incorporates Qwitter, a tool that allows users to track their smoking, keep a journal, and view their progress through Twitter, a social networking website. Click here for more details on the campaign, or click here to navigate to the innovative Tobacco Free Florida website.

New alcohol, drug, tobacco rules oversee student activities (AK)
This fall, Alaska will implement a uniform statewide disciplinary policy for students who are caught using tobacco products. Students risk being suspended from their extracurricular activities for ten days following their first tobacco offense. Suspended students must remain smoke-free for the entire ten days, or their suspension starts fresh for another ten days. According to Gary Matthews, executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association, this new policy puts every school on a level playing field regarding smoking policies, and the uniform statewide policy will be more enforceable. Find out more here.

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International

Advertising linked to increased tobacco use among India's youth
A study of sixth and eighth graders in India investigated whether a link exists between tobacco marketing and a recently observed increase in smoking among younger kids. Although India banned tobacco advertising in 2004, tobacco companies have moved on to more covert marketing methods including lifestyle marketing, such as mobile smoking lounges. Researchers found that kids who were exposed to more tobacco advertising were more likely to have smoked in the past or be current smokers. Furthermore, youths who were more receptive to tobacco marketing—for example, those who believed the misleading imagery in tobacco advertisements—were also more likely to use tobacco. The study is published in the May/June issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior. Click here for more information.

Tobacco use among 13-15 year olds in Sri Lanka, 1999-2007
Data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey from 1999, 2003, and 2007 showed a decrease in smoking among Sri Lankan youths aged 13-15. The GYTS is a school-based survey that monitors teens’ smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. The amount of students who reported that they were currently smokers decreased from 4.0% in 1999 to 1.2% in 2007. The percentage of students reporting that their parents were smokers dropped from 50.8% in 1999 to 29.9% in 2007, but secondhand smoke exposure in public places remained steady over time. The decreases in tobacco use may be partly attributable to government restrictions that took effect in 2006 to limit tobacco marketing and promotions and ban smoking in public places. Click here for more details on the study results.

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