Youth Prevention

Research

Targeting high-risk neighborhoods for tobacco prevention education in schools
In new research published in the American Journal of Public Health, data from the 2005 Virginia Youth Tobacco Survey and the Census 2000 School District Demographics Project were used to investigate whether smoking prevention education was being targeted toward neighborhoods with the greatest need. The data showed that while smoking rates were highest in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status, smoking prevention programs were less likely to be available in those areas. The investigators recommend that school prevention programs be better targeted to reach high-risk and disadvantaged neighborhoods. Click here to read the study abstract.

Tobacco, alcohol, and other risk behaviors in film: How well do MPAA ratings distinguish content?
A recent study has determined that the current Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating system does not adequately inform parents about tobacco and alcohol use in films. Researchers analyzed the content of 900 of the top films from 1996 to 2004 to measure risk behaviors portrayed in each. They found that more restrictive ratings (R and PG-13) were associated with increased screen time involving tobacco and alcohol use, but the ratings did not distinguish films based on use of these substances: 50% of R, 26% of PG-13, and 17% of PG movies contained at least 124 seconds of tobacco use and 50% of R, 49% of PG-13, and 25% of PG movies contained at least 162 seconds of alcohol use. The amount of overlap of alcohol and drug content between rating categories prevents the rating system from being a useful tool for parents to limit children’s exposure to tobacco and alcohol content. Read the abstract, published in the Journal of Health Communication.

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Reports

New tobacco prevention campaign launched in Connecticut (CT)
The Connecticut Department of Public Health has started a new statewide tobacco prevention program designed to appeal to technology-savvy youth. The program, called “Tobacco. It’s a Waste.” utilizes the power of peer-to-peer communication to develop messages by youth and young adults that will influence their peers and prevent tobacco use. As part of the campaign, the Department is sponsoring a contest for 13-24 year olds across the state to create a television commercial intended to keep their peers from smoking or chewing tobacco. Contest entries will be accepted through April 2, 2010. Visit the campaign website or click here for more details about the contest.

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International

Patterns of adolescent smoking and later nicotine dependence in young adults: A 10-year prospective study (Australia)
New research indicates that adolescent daily smokers who quit for at least a year have the same levels of nicotine dependence as adolescents that never smoked by the time they reach young adulthood. The prospective cohort study followed 1,520 students over the course of ten years (starting at age 14 or 15) to determine which patterns of adolescent smoking predict smoking status in young adults. The prevalence of nicotine dependence in young adults was 16.9% for all adolescent smokers. Maximum smoking levels, onset of daily smoking, duration of smoking, escalation time, and duration of cessation during adolescence were found to be predictors of nicotine dependence as a young adult. Based on this evidence, the researchers recommend that tobacco control and clinical interventions should focus on helping adolescent daily smokers quit for a period of twelve months. Click here to read the abstract of the study, published in Public Health.

Young smokers may be more apt to try pot: Behavioral problems are less indicative of future marijuana use, study finds (Netherlands)
A new Dutch study shows that cigarette smoking is an independent predictor of marijuana use among adolescents, while behavioral problems do not appear to play a role in marijuana use. Over 1,600 adolescents were tracked at baseline at age 10-12 to assess externalizing behavior problems and for two follow-up assessments at age 12-15 and 15-18 to determine cigarette use and marijuana use, respectively. The study found that smoking mediated the association of externalizing behavior problems and marijuana use, and that early smoking onset is a good predictor of later marijuana use, independent of behavioral problems. Click here to read more, or here for the study abstract, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Taiwan to include tobacco in film rating scheme (Taiwan)
The Taiwanese government has announced plans to change its movie rating system to take screen time allotted to smoking into consideration.   The Department of Health has said that smoking in movies has a larger impact on children than sex or violence, and should thus be taken into account when deciding which films children should be allowed to see.  This measure comes as part of a larger effort to create stronger anti-smoking policies in Taiwan. Indoor public smoking and cigarette advertising have been banned in recent years.  Click here to read more.

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