Youth Prevention

Research

Leniency on R-rated movies linked to kids' smoking
Research published in Pediatrics indicates that if parents are more lenient about their kids’ exposure to R-rated movies, the children are more likely to seek more risky behaviors, including smoking. Investigators used random-digit dialing to recruit a nationally representative sample of 6,255 adolescents aged 10 to 14, who were interviewed periodically over two years to asses smoking onset, parental R-rated movie restrictions, and sensation seeking. The results showed that sensation seeking was directly related to increased risk of smoking initiation, and also indirectly related to parents becoming more permissive of viewing rated R movies. The researchers observed that the parents could influence adolescents’ behavioral tendencies through their parenting; restricting access to R-rated movies was found to reduce sensation seeking levels and indirectly decrease the likelihood of smoking. The authors recommend that parents restrict the viewing of R-rated movies throughout adolescence, and that video store and movie theatre employees do more to enforce policies that prevent minors from viewing them. Click here to read more, or read the full article.

Evidence for truth®: The young adult response to a youth-focused antismoking media campaign
A new article evaluating the impact of Legacy’s truth® tobacco use prevention campaign has found that the youth-oriented campaign may also be effective in promoting attitude and behavioral change among young adults aged 18-24. Using the Legacy Media Tracking Surveys, data were collected from 19,701 young adults from 2000 through 2004. Respondents were asked about their awareness of the truth® campaign and about attitudes and beliefs toward the tobacco industry, smoking, and the social acceptability of smoking. The results showed that the majority of young adults surveyed were aware of the truth® campaign, and awareness of the campaign was associated with five of the nine antismoking attitudes and beliefs that were assessed. In addition, several of the antismoking attitudes and beliefs measured were associated with intention to not smoke among nonsmokers or intention to quit among smokers. Click here to read the study abstract, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Reports

truth® is designated as an effective intervention program
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) designated the truth® campaign as one of a select group of effective intervention programs targeted at youth smoking prevention. OJJDP’s designation means truth® is recognized as an effective program in the OJJDEP’s Model Programs Guide (MPG). The guide offers a database of scientifically-proven programs that address a range of issues, including substance abuse, mental health, and education programs. Click here to read the full findings.

Smoking stops declining and shows signs of increasing among younger teens
Results from the most recent Monitoring the Future study indicate that the steady decrease in teen smoking prevalence observed since the late 1990s has leveled off. The study uses national surveys from over 46,000 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in about 400 secondary schools each year to gather data on smoking prevalence and attitudes towards smoking. Peak smoking levels among teens were reached around 1996-1997, after which smoking among teens fell sharply until 2002-2003. After that point, the decline in teen smoking slowed considerably. This year’s results continue to show a leveling off in the prevalence of smoking, perceived availability of cigarettes, and percentages of respondents seeing great risk associated with smoking and having negative feelings toward smoking. The study also examined the use of smokeless tobacco, hookahs, and small cigars. The Monitoring the Future study has been conducted for 36 years, and is administered by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Click here to read more, or click here to view tables and graphs from the study. Click here to view a statement on the findings from Legacy.

Philadelphia cracks down on tobacco sales to youth (PA)
A recent study by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health shows that 3.6% of the city’s high school adolescents smoked cigarettes on 20 out of 30 days, and 11% had smoked at least once in the past 30 days. These results indicate that Philadelphia has the highest rate of youth smoking among comparable-sized cities. Additionally, about one-third of Philadelphia’s youth smokers buy their own cigarettes (the highest rate among large U.S. cities), there is a 19.8% illegal youth sales rate, and about 75% of tobacco retail locations are within two blocks of a school. In an effort to discourage tobacco sales to minors, the Philadelphia City Council has increased the maximum fines for retailers caught selling tobacco products to minors from $300 to $2000 per violation. Click here to read more, or download the full report from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

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International

Adolescent smoking: Effect of school and community characteristics (Canada)
Research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicates that school and community characteristics may account for variations between schools in levels of youth smoking. Researchers obtained data from students and administrators in 82 secondary schools in five Canadian provinces regarding smoking status and school tobacco control policies and educational programs. Observations of the community were used to gather other information, such as the price of cigarettes. They found that students attending schools that had tobacco prevention education programs and stricter tobacco-free policies were 13% and 8% less likely, respectively, to smoke than those attending schools that did not. A student was 25% more likely to smoke if a greater number of students was observed smoking near the school, and the price per cigarette in the neighboring area was inversely related to smoking prevalence. The authors suggest that to prevent tobacco use, an ideal school environment would provide tobacco prevention education, prohibit tobacco use, and be located in a neighborhood where cigarette prices are high. Click here to read the study abstract.

Children's loss of autonomy over smoking: The global youth tobacco survey (Cyprus & Greece)
An analysis of two national surveys conducted in Cyprus and Greece shows that adolescents that smoke infrequently are still likely to experience difficulty in quitting. National data from middle school students participating in the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) were used to assess relationships between smoking frequency and loss of autonomy, which is defined as difficulty refraining from smoking. The results showed that symptoms of lost autonomy were present in both youth who reported smoking only one or two days per month (40%) as well as among those who averaged less than one cigarette per day on days when they smoked (41%). These findings corroborate studies in other countries that have shown loss of autonomy among infrequent adolescent smokers. Based on these data, tobacco cessation programs are important for individuals in the early stages of initiation. Click here to read the study abstract, published in Tobacco Control.

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