Youth Prevention

Research

Agreement between parents and youth on measures of anti-smoking socialization
Researchers have found that there was generally poor agreement between parents and children on reports of anti-smoking socialization. A total of 299 parent-youth dyads reported their smoking history, type and frequency of smoking-related messages given by parents, specific rules and punishments related to smoking, and perceived parental reaction to smoking. The data analysis showed poor parent-child agreement on these measures, at less than 50% overall. The level of agreement was associated with parental smoking status, but not with race/ethnicity. These results show that future research should focus on how parents can most clearly and effectively communicate with their children about tobacco use. Read the abstract of the study, originally published in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, here.

Trends in U.S. movie tobacco portrayal since 1950: A historical analysis
A new study shows that tobacco content in popular U.S. films has declined since 1950, and that the trend closely parallels the per capita decrease in cigarette consumption and increase in tobacco control efforts during that time. Researchers examined a sample of 855 high grossing films from 1950 to 2006, coding in five minute segments for tobacco content and main character tobacco use. The results show that tobacco content in films has declined significantly since 1950, after peaking around 1961, similar to the rates of cigarette consumption which have also declined after peaking in 1966. While a causal association cannot be established, the study implies that tobacco portrayal in films could serve as an instrument to measure societal support for tobacco use. Click here to read the abstract of the article published in Tobacco Control.

State-level tobacco control policies and youth smoking cessation measures
Research published in the journal Health Policy shows that high cigarette prices and strong laws barring tobacco sales to minors are associated with discontinuation of smoking among high school students. Data from the Monitoring the Future study, a population-based nested survey of 8th, 10th and 12th grade students, were used to investigate the relationship between state-level tobacco control policies and youth smoking cessation behaviors from 1991 to 2006. The results indicate that cigarette prices were positively associated with cessation-related measures such as quit attempts, desire to quit, and discontinuation of smoking. The strength of laws prohibiting sales to minors was found to be associated with discontinuation of smoking in 10th and 12th grade students. The findings imply that evidence-based policies should be passed in every state in order to encourage prevention and cessation in adolescents. Click here to read more.

UNC study: North Carolina leads nation in number of tobacco-free college campus policies (NC)
Research conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that North Carolina has the largest number of college campuses that have voluntarily banned or restricted smoking in the country. The researchers evaluated the North Carolina Tobacco-Free Colleges Initiative, an intervention designed to aid in the implementation of tobacco-free policies at 64 campuses, tracking process and policy outcomes from 2006 through 2009. They found that in the four years following the start of the Initiative, 33 campuses had adopted tobacco-free policies that prevent tobacco use to the maximum extent legally permitted. The policies are intended to protect those on campus from secondhand smoke, and to encourage cessation and prevention. The success of the Initiative shows that multilevel statewide interventions can be used to promote tobacco-free policy implementation on college campuses. Click here to read more, or click here to read the abstract of the study, published in the journal Tobacco Control.

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Reports

All 50 states and the District of Columbia continue to achieve goals in restricting tobacco sales to minors under Synar Program – A state/federal partnership
A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that while all of the states and the District of Columbia (DC) are meeting their goals in preventing tobacco sales to minors, there has been a slight increase in the national average rate of underage tobacco sales. Each state’s goals are set under the Synar Amendment program, a law that requires states to have laws and enforcement programs to prevent the sale and distribution of tobacco to minors. The 2009 data show that sales to underage buyers increased from 9.9% in 2008 to 10.9% in 2009, and that fewer states have achieved rates below 15.0%. Otherwise, data collected over the past thirteen years have shown a clear downward trend. In order to once again reduce tobacco sales to minors, officials at SAMHSA are working with states to secure funding for enforcement, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin inspections related to enforcement later this summer. Read more here, or view the full report here.

New report provides startling look at substance abuse on an average day in the life of American adolescents
A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) details the substance abuse behavior and addiction treatment activities of adolescents, showing the daily toll of alcohol, illicit drugs, and cigarettes on the nation’s youth. Data were collected through national surveys to determine the use of illegal substances, prevalence of treatment for substance abuse, and drug-related emergency room visits among 12-17 year old adolescents. Researchers found that on an average day, 508,000 adolescents drink alcohol, 641,000 use illicit drugs, and over a million smoke cigarettes. Also on an average day, 3,900 youths smoke cigarettes for the first time. Read more here, or click here to read the full report, titled, A Day in the Life of American Adolescents: Substance Use Facts Update.

truth and Best Buy @15 Exchange
Starting in May, the truth anti-tobacco campaign is a featured program in Best Buy’s @15 Exchange, which allows young people to decide which nonprofit organizations will receive up to $250,000 from Best Buy. On the Best Buy @15 Exchange website, truth engages teens with videos, photos and a viral toolkit to spread the message to other teens. Teens can show their support for truth and smoking prevention by participating on www.at15.com and voting for truth during the two-week voting period in July (July 15-31). Teens can also help by spreading the word to their fellow activists and friends. Click here for more details, or click here to visit the @15 Exchange website.

truth kicks off its 11th annual summer tour with Vans Warped Tour, Ast Dew Tour, the Afro-Punk Festival and others
truth, the nation’s largest smoking prevention campaign for youth, began its 11th annual nationwide summer tour on Friday, June 25, at tour stops in California and New York City. By traveling throughout the U.S. this summer, truth continues its life-saving mission to educate young people about the health effects, addictiveness and social consequences of tobacco use. Young adult truth “crew members” will interact with teens across the country at local stops of popular summer musical and sporting events. Every year, truth crews connect with more than 500,000 teens, allowing teens to experience the truth campaign first-hand. This year, two crews and their signature orange “truth trucks” will make more than 60 stops across more than 25 states, as they travel to some of the season’s hottest teen-oriented events. truth is a multidimensional campaign, featuring not only grassroots outreach through summer tours but also advertising (television, radio, print, online, cinema), Websites and interactive elements, and events. In the past decade, the truth campaign has kept nearly half a million teens from smoking, protecting them from years of addiction and tobacco-related disease and saving countless lives. Click here for a link to the full press release on the Legacy site. Click here for a link to the truth site.

BACCHUS certifies two university tobacco policies (OK, MN)
The BACCHUS Network™ is pleased to announce Oklahoma State University and Winona State University in Minnesota as the first recipients of the organization’s Certification for Campus Tobacco Policy. These universities have enacted policies that eliminate tobacco use on campus and prohibit sales, marketing, and promotion of tobacco brands and products. Click here for more information about the levels of certification and process for applying to the BACCHUS Certification for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy program.

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