Youth Prevention

Research

Simpsons in smoking scandal
One of the most popular television shows in history, The Simpsons, could be promoting smoking to children. In the program’s first 18 seasons, researchers found nearly 800 instances of smoking or references to smoking. Although the majority of the cases portrayed smoking as neutral, the large number of cases where smoking was shown could have an impact on promoting smoking to children. Read more here. Click here to read the article, which was published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Smoking-cessation research highlights importance of keeping teens from smoking
Two recent studies highlight strategies to prevent teens from smoking, and to help young adults quit. The first study suggests that college students who are trying to quit smoking may need multiple strategies and attempts to be successful at smoking cessation. Programs that incorporate real stories and experiences of those who failed but did not give up may be beneficial to college-age smokers wanting to quit. Another study revealed that graphic warning labels on cigarette packages are more effective for lowering smoking intentions in Canadian teenagers compared to Americans. Results of both studies can be found in the summer 2009 issue of the Journal of Consumer Affairs. Click here to read more [article provides links to abstracts of the two studies].

How adolescents experience smoking cessation
A study was conducted to follow youth experiences during smoking cessation attempts. Fifteen adolescent smokers were followed twice a month for three months with six semi-structured interviews. The study found that only emotionally compelling (i.e. guilt and fear) and inescapable (i.e. immediate concerns, rather than long-term effects of smoking) quit reasons were truly motivating. The study also suggests that the quitting experience for teens is physically uncomfortable, emotionally distressful, and socially isolating. To read the abstract click here. The study was published in the May issue of Qualitative Health Research.

Enforcement of underage sales laws as a predictor of daily smoking among adolescents – a national study
Results from the national Monitoring the Future survey confirmed that state merchants’ compliance with tobacco sales laws was associated with a reduced risk of current daily smoking among youths. The study data indicated that at the state level, for every 1% increase in merchant compliance, there was a 2% decrease in the odds of daily smoking among youths. An overall 47% reduction in the odds of daily smoking among adolescents during the study period (1997-2003) was attributed to price increases on tobacco during that time. The researchers conclude that both cigarette pricing and merchant compliance were contributing factors to the decline in smoking rates from 1997 to 2003. Click here to read more. This study appeared in BMC Public Health.

As movies portray fewer smokers, fewer teens light up
A recent study found that fewer movies are depicting smoking than in the past, and fewer teens are smoking. Among the top 25 highest grossing movies in 1990, there was an average of 3.5 scenes per movie where either tobacco was shown or a character was using tobacco. In the top 25 films of 2007, an average of 0.23 scenes per movie depicted tobacco products or tobacco use. According to data from the Monitoring the Future survey, the prevalence of smoking among eighth graders decreased an average of 1.3 percentage points each year from 1996 to 2007. Although the study cannot prove that there is a causal relationship between exposure to smoking in movies and teen behavior, these findings do suggest that movie smoking glamorizes smoking for youths. Click here to read more, or click here to access the article in JAMA.

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Reports

Video: Truth® asks: ‘Do you have what it takes?’
The newest ad campaign by truth® was released at the end of May. In the ads, real-life job-seekers are asked if they would be willing to participate in the types of decisions and situations that tobacco industry executives have made or encountered in order to sell their deadly products. The American Legacy Foundation recently conducted a study and found that many Americans would choose not to work in the industry and have a negative opinion of the tobacco industry. Click here to read more, and to view a video from the campaign.

Factsheets for a smoke-free Father’s Day
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has recently updated a factsheet that provides state-specific data on tobacco use and related harms for men. The factsheet contains state-specific information on (1) current smoking rates for men, (2) smoking-attributable male deaths, (3) number of dads lost to smoking, (4) expenditures to treat men's smoking-caused health problems, as well as other information. Click here to download this factsheet, which can be used for messaging targeting fathers. Click here for another Father’s Day factsheet with tips for dads to help keep their kids from smoking.

Which movie studios will cause the most youth to start smoking this summer? (CA)
Teens have taken notice, and offense, to movie studios promoting the use of tobacco in youth-rated films. It is estimated that one-third to one-half of youth smoking can be attributed to movies. As a result, California teens and health groups are coming together in the Movie Smoking Scorecard campaign that will tally up the number of tobacco impressions in this summer’s youth-related blockbusters. The studio with the worst record will be announced at the end of September. The campaign also includes mobile billboards on the streets of Los Angeles as well as Facebook pages hosting the scorecard, a petition, Twitter feed, and youths’ comments about the issue. Click here to read more.

136 stores cited in tobacco sales sting (HI)
The rate of stores in Hawaii selling tobacco products to minors amounts to 13%, similar to the rate of 12% from previous years. Hawaii’s violation rate is higher than the national average. In a sting that visited over 1,000 tobacco retailers, 136 stores sold tobacco to underage shoppers. These stores were fined from $500 to $2,000, depending on the number of prior offenses. Along with the citations, the state health department is working to prevent tobacco sales to minors through education, tobacco compliance checks, and community interventions. Read more here.

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International

WHO calls for enforceable policies to restrict smoking in movies
Studies have shown that smoking in movies encourages youths to light up. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) has created a report that summarizes the research on smoking and movies, and outlines policy options for countries to reduce youth exposure to smoking in movies. The report includes case studies of actions countries have taken, lessons learned, and information on future research and advocacy priorities. The WHO recommends that all future movies with scenes of smoking be given an adult rating. Read more here. Click here to download a PDF of the full report.

Government is urged to protect children from cigarettes (Indonesia)
Data from the Surabaya Health Office in Indonesia have revealed a steady increase in child smokers (ages 5-14) from 1995 to 2004. In 1994, 8.9% of youths aged 10-14 were smokers, but by 2004, the rate had climbed to 12.8%. No laws have been created forbidding tobacco sales to children. Although the government passed anti-smoking laws in November 2008, they have failed to enforce the law. Activists from Surabaya’s Anti Smoking Community Network are demanding that the government enforce the anti-smoking law while banning cigarette advertisements based on child protection laws. Click here to read more.

1 in 3 Filipino teens smoke – WHO study (Philippines)
According to the 2007 Global Tobacco Youth Survey conducted by the World Health Organization, one in every three Filipino teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 are current smokers. The youth smoking prevalence has increased despite a law banning cigarette advertising. Efforts are now being made to pass a new law requiring graphic health warnings on cigarette packages. Other efforts include raising taxes to make it more expensive for people to continue to smoke. Click here to read more.

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