Youth Prevention

Research

Smoking behavior of U.S. youths: A comparison between child welfare systems and community populations
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that youth enrolled in the child welfare system (CW) have higher rates of smoking compared to youths in the general population. Researchers examined data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to determine smoking levels of children ages 12 to 14 enrolled in the CW and the general population. The results show that CW-involved youth have significantly higher lifetime and current smoking rates than youth in the general population. The authors say that more cessation and prevention services should be focused on youth in the child welfare system. Read the study abstract here.

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Reports

Solving the puzzle: A guide to pediatric tobacco control
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Julius B. Richmond Center has released a new guide to pediatric tobacco control. The AAP’s goal in releasing this toolkit is to supply a tobacco control resource guide that provides the tools needed to address tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure with youth and families. This guide includes resources for mainstream healthcare clinicians, guidance on working with youth and families, cessation materials, and strategies to keep communities smoke-free on multiple levels. Click here to access the guide online, and to learn how to obtain a hard copy.

4th Annual Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' National PSA Contest: Kicking Butts on Film (...and Radio!)
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is inviting young people to stand out, speak up, and seize control in the fight against tobacco by entering an original video or radio public service announcement, also known as a PSA, in the national Kicking Butts on Film (…and Radio!) contest. The contest is being held in conjunction with Kick Butts Day, CTFK’s annual youth engagement event, which will take place on March 21, 2012. Entries are due by January 27, 2012. Click here for more details about the contest and how to enter.

Arkansas Tobacco Prevention and Cessation launches prevention media campaign (AR)
In October, the Arkansas Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program launched the “Big Tobacco Is Not Your Friend” media and grassroots campaign. The campaign consists of three television spots in English and Spanish, a website and Facebook page. TPCP also declared the second Friday in November as the first tobacco prevention day to encourage youth to stand up to Big Tobacco. Students in middle, junior, and high schools across the state were asked to involve their friends and classmates to take a stand against Big Tobacco by filming a video of a march, rally, step show, flash mob or lip dub. Five video submissions including over 100 students were submitted, and online voting to select a winner took place from November 11-18. Visit SOSProjectPrevent.com to view video submissions and see the new television spots.

Cigar use among Maryland youth threatens gains in tobacco control; officials take action to protect youth from growing threat of flavored cigars (MD)
Maryland health officials have announced that the use of flavored little cigars is increasing among youth. Data shows that while cigarette smoking has decreased by 40% since 2000, cigar use has increased 11%. Over 76% of underage cigar smokers in high school smoke flavored cigars, which often come in kid-friendly flavors. Little cigars may appeal to kids because they can be purchased individually and cheaply, especially compared to cigarettes. The state has launched a public education campaign on the website, thecigartrap.com, to draw attention to the health risks of inexpensive flavored cigars. Read a press release from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene here. Click here for a new Maryland youth cigar fact sheet from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

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