Youth Prevention

Reports

Public health survey finds youth smoking in Connecticut continues to decline (CT)
The Connecticut Department of Public Health has released a new report showing that the rate of cigarette smoking among adolescents continues to decline in the state. A sample of 4,616 students in sixth through twelfth grades were surveyed about their tobacco use, perceptions of tobacco use, and access to tobacco products as part of the 2009 Connecticut School Health Survey (CSHS). The data showed that 4.9% of middle school students and 20.8% of high school students had used some form of tobacco at least once in the previous thirty days. The prevalence of cigarette smoking has declined in both age groups from 2000 to 2009, from 9.8% to 3.3% among middle school students and from 25.6% to 15.3% among high school students. In both age groups, smokers were more likely than never-smokers to report that smoking has social benefits. Click here to read a press release from the CDPH, or here to read the full report.

Foundation and MTV hope campaign is 'dead on' with youths
The American Legacy Foundation has teamed up with MTV to create an anti-smoking ad campaign called “The Real World: Zombieville.” Based on MTV’s reality show “The Real World,” the campaign features a group of young adults living in a house surrounded by zombies. The commercials compare the effects of smoking and the tactics used by the tobacco industry to the harms of fictional zombie attacks. The creative team behind the “truth” campaigns at Legacy helped to develop the storylines for the television spots, which were then produced by MTV to make them more closely resemble “The Real World.” Working with media companies such as MTV enables Legacy to stretch its limited advertising budget. The six commercials appeared on MTV during “The Real World: New Orleans” on August 25, September 1, and September 8 following a teaser on August 18. Click here to read more about the commercials.

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