Youth Prevention

Research

Watching R-rated movies boosts kids’ smoking risk: The finding could point to a general parental permissiveness, researchers say
A recent study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, has found that children that are permitted to watch R-rated films are more likely to smoke cigarettes. The researchers analyzed data from 1200 Massachusetts youth who were enrolled in the study as sixth graders, and were interviewed eleven times over a four-year period from 2002-2006. The children who were allowed to watch R-rated films were also significantly more likely to say that it would be easy for them to access cigarettes compared to children who were not allowed to watch R-rated films. Research shows that children who perceive easier access to cigarettes are more likely to become smokers. Click here to read more. Click here to access the abstract of the article.

Smoking, drinking should matter in movie ratings, parent survey finds
According to a recent survey, while many parents believe that smoking and drinking in films should be considered when determining the films rating, less than half of the parents surveyed felt that these behaviors alone warrant an R rating. Because research has previously linked teens’ exposure to smoking in movies to an increased risk of smoking, public health advocates have been pushing for smoking to be factored into the rating system for movies. This study may indicate a lack of awareness among parents of the link between movies and teens’ smoking. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) currently bases ratings on adult themes, violence, language, nudity, sex and drug use. The MPAA has recently stated that they are looking into adding smoking to the factors that determine a film’s rating. The study assessing parents’ attitudes towards smoking and drinking in movies was published in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Click here to read more. Click here to read an abstract of the study.

Teenagers do listen to their parents when it comes to smoking
A survey of Swedish adolescents showed that parents can influence their children not to smoke. A recent study assessed the attitudes of adolescents aged 13, 15, and 17 towards parental intervention on tobacco use. The study also compared data from 1987, 1994, and 2003 to see if adolescents’ attitudes have changed over time. The data showed that teenagers are much more positive towards parental attempts to encourage smoking cessation now, than they were in the past. The most effective actions that parents took to dissuade adolescents from smoking were to encourage their children not to smoke, to not smoke themselves and to not allow smoking in their home. Younger teenagers were more receptive to parental intervention than the older teens. The findings should encourage more parents to deliver anti-smoking messages to their children. Click here to read more. Click here to read an abstract of the study in the BMC Public Health journal.

Resources

STORE:  Strategic Tobacco Retail Effort
The STORE campaign is an effort in California that targets the retail environment in order to prevent tobacco sales to youths. The STORE website offers a manual to help organizations, agencies, coalitions, and activists to carry out similar campaigns, and describes the step-by-step process involved in organizing such an effort. A new resource has been posted to the website, the Annotated resource list for point of sale practices and illegal sales. Assembled by the California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP), this comprehensive resource list addresses the point of sale/illegal sales area. This resource list highlights key resources provided by CTCP as well as CTCP’s statewide technical assistance providers. This document includes links to important websites, tools, reports, and fact sheets. While some resources are specific to California policies, many of the resources can be used as models for programs and policies elsewhere. Click here to access the STORE website, or click here to download the annotated resource list.

Not-On-Tobacco website
A dissemination and technical assistance website is now available for the Not-On-Tobacco (N-O-T) program, an American Lung Association program developed specifically to help teens quit smoking. The website provides information about the program to help users determine whether N-O-T is right for their school or community, and provides information on becoming an N-O-T facilitator. N-O-T was developed with over ten years of research and evaluation, and has been very successful; the program’s 21% quit rate is higher than any other teen smoking cessation program. The interactive program helps teens learn why they smoke, and provides teens with the skills needed to make quitting a lasting lifestyle change. Click here to access the Not-On-Tobacco website.

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