Youth Prevention

Research

Association of established smoking among adolescents with timing of exposure to smoking depicted in movies
Early exposure (between ages 10-14) to smoking depicted in movies has been found to be associated with smoking among adolescents, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. About 2,040 nonsmoking students in New Hampshire and Vermont were randomly selected to complete a written survey to determine personal, family, and sociodemographic characteristics, as well as exposure to depictions of smoking in the movies (early exposure). The survey was then repeated seven years later (late exposure). The data show that students in the highest quartile for early exposure had 73% more risk of smoking than those in the lowest quartile for early exposure, and the authors recommend that interventions focus on limiting early exposure to smoking depicted in movies. Exposure to smoking later in adolescence did not have a significant effect on smoking risk. Click here to read the study abstract.

Efficacy of smoking-cessation interventions for young adults
New research examined the effectiveness of evidence-based smoking cessation treatments for young adults by analyzing studies published between 2004 and 2008. The data showed that any type of intervention was successful compared to a control group, and that treatments that were effective for adults were also effective for young adults. Despite these findings, the researchers contend that smoking cessation interventions are still not being used enough by this population. This research shows that interventions should focus on motivating young adults to seek cessation treatment in order to increase utilization. To read the study abstract published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, click here.

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Reports

The CDC releases new report: 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey
U.S. high school students have improved in many health-risk behaviors associated with causes of death among youth, including tobacco use, according to a recently released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This report is based on data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), which monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults in grades 9-12 who attend public and private schools. Regarding tobacco use, the report states that 23.4% of students nationwide reported current cigarette use, current smokeless tobacco use, or current cigar use. The overall prevalence of tobacco use was higher among males (28.1%) than females (18.5%), and the overall prevalence of current tobacco use was higher among white (26.5%) than black (15.4%) and Hispanic (20.5%) students. Additionally, the prevalence of current tobacco use decreased from 43.4% to 25.7% during 1997–2007 and did not change significantly during 2007–2011. Click here to read the full article published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Click here for a fact sheet posted by the CDC that combines results from the 2011 YRBS and the 2006 School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) that contains data on the percentage of high school students who smoke cigarettes and use other tobacco products, and describes characteristics of health education, family and community involvement, and the school environment among U.S. high schools that may help to address the problem.

Report shows decrease in smoking levels among adolescents and young adults in a six year period
According to a recent report, there was a decrease in the prevalence of cigarette use among minors and young adults between 2004 and 2010. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that while a notable segment of adolescents are still current smokers (defined as having smoked at least once in the past month), the prevalence has decreased from 11.9% in 2004 to 8.3% in 2010. SAMHSA states that some progress has been made in reducing smoking among youth, however, data shows that one in three young adults are current smokers and continue to endanger their lives. Click here to read more about this report. Click here for the full report titled Trends in Cigarette Use among Adolescents and Young Adults.

American teens are less likely than European teens to use cigarettes and alcohol, but more likely to use illicit drugs
According to a recent report from the University of Michigan, the U.S. has the second-lowest proportion of students who used tobacco and alcohol, compared to students in 26 European countries. The report was compiled using coordinated school surveys about substance use from about 100,000 students in Eastern and Western Europe as well as the findings from a similar report about U.S. students. Comparing the data shows that the average proportion for all European students that smoked cigarettes (28%) was twice the rate in the U.S. (12%). The results for alcohol use were similar to tobacco use, but the results for illicit drugs use varied greatly, with U.S. students having among the highest rates of all the countries studied. To read a press release about the report, click here. Click here for U.S. data from the 2011 Monitoring the Future report on adolescent drug use funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). Click here for the 2011 European School Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) report.

truth® youth smoking prevention campaign kicks off annual summer tour
The largest youth antismoking campaign in the U.S., called “truth”, began its thirteenth annual nationwide summer tour on June 16th. The four month long truth tour will educate thousands of teens about tobacco use, the marketing tactics of the tobacco industry, and the health effects, addictiveness, and social consequences of tobacco use. The tour consists of a crew of young adults who will interact with teens at local stops of popular summer music tours, gaming and sporting events. The tour will begin in Salt Lake City, Utah and will hold more than 80 events in over 60 cities and towns in 28 states this summer. To read more about the truth tour sponsored by Legacy, click here.

Survey shows decline in Hawaii teen smoking rates (HI)
Smoking rates among Hawaii youth have decreased drastically according to new findings from the state Department of Health and the Department of Education. The results of Hawaii’s 2011 Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) show that the number of high school students who have smoked in the past thirty days has declined from 24.5% in 2000 to 8.7% in 2011, a 64% decrease. This reduction has been attributed to Hawaii’s tobacco education and prevention program. Click here to read more, and click here to view the report from the Department of Health.

NC teen smoking rates reach historic lows (NC)
Results from The North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey show that the percentage of North Carolina teens who smoke has reached the lowest ever recorded. The survey was presented by North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and it indicates that 4.3% of middle school students and 15.5% of high school students smoked cigarettes. Click here to read this article, and click here to read a press release from DHHS.

North Carolina tobacco-free schools website (NC)
In North Carolina, all public schools are 100 percent tobacco-free, meaning that the use of all tobacco products by anyone, including students, staff, and visitors, on school grounds or at school events is prohibited at all times. The North Carolina Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch recently posted its Tobacco-Free Schools website that provides information, resources and assistance to all school districts nationwide that want to advocate for a 100 percent tobacco-free policy in their schools and for those who have adopted the policy. Here, you will find all the tools you need to create, adopt, implement, communicate and gain compliance for a 100 percent tobacco-free school policy. Please visit the new site here.

7-Eleven pioneers innovative idea in the fight against illegal underage sales (NY)
In each of its stores in the New York metropolitan area, the convenience retailer 7-Eleven will launch a new technology that is designed to reduce the amount of illegal sales of tobacco products and alcohol. This new technology will scan the 2-D code on the back of a customer’s driver license or identification card when they are purchasing age-restricted products. The scan will verify the birth date stored on the card, but will not store any other information. 7-Eleven hopes this new technology will reduce illegal sales of age-restricted items to minors. Click here to read more.

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