Youth Prevention

Research

Smoking in youth-rated movies has doubled since 2010
Smoking imagery in movies commonly viewed by youth has been found to have doubled in recent years. According to a new report released by Legacy, the incidence of tobacco use in youth-rated (G/PG/PG-13) movies has doubled from 2010-2012 which signifies a rebound to rates reported a decade ago. Half of the youth-rated movies in 2012 showed about 14.8 billion tobacco impressions (tobacco incidents multiplied by the number of tickets sold per film) which is a 169% increase from 2010 impressions. The U.S. Surgeon General has reported that youth watching characters who smoke increases the likelihood of youth starting to smoke, and this data indicates a set-back for tobacco prevention goals among youth. Click here to read more. Click here to access a “Smoking in the Movies” factsheet released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that provides data on how smoking in movies influences youth to smoke and incidents of tobacco use in youth-rated movies.

Teenage smoking behavior influenced by friends' and parents' smoking habits
A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health reports that parents and friends influence youth smoking behaviors from junior high to high school. Research conducted at the University of Southern California examined data from adolescents that participated in the first seven waves of the longitudinal Midwestern Prevention Project (n=1,001). Students were asked about their smoking behaviors as well as smoking behaviors of their friends and parents. The results showed that friend and parental cigarette use significantly affected adolescent cigarette use in junior and high school. Friends’ influence was higher in junior high than high school, and parental influence did not change over the two time periods. Other differences in influence were reported by gender. This study provides evidence that youth are easily influenced to smoke by the people around them. Click here to read more. Click here to read the study abstract.

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Reports

"America's Most Wanted Tobacco Villains" report spotlights tobacco industry's marketing to children
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) is drawing attention to the tobacco industry’s marketing to children with a new infographic and report entitled “America’s Most Wanted Tobacco Villains.” Smoking among youth is still a problem in the U.S., and this report and infographic highlight the biggest threats to youth in regards to tobacco. Click here to read more. Click here to read the full report and here to access the infographic.

Kick Butts Day 2013 was a big success!
Kick Butts Day 2013, an event organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) and sponsored by United Health Foundation, was considered to be a success. Thousands of youth participated in over 1,300 planned events across the country. Kick Butts Day is an annual event that engages youth leaders and activists in tobacco control activities. This year’s event focused on the products and marketing practices used by the tobacco industry to encourage youth to use tobacco. Click here for more information about the event. Click here to read CTFK’s statement about this event.

2013 AAP Children's Art Contest
The American Academy of Pediatrics has kicked off its ninth annual children’s art contest. This year’s theme, “A World Free from Tobacco and Secondhand Smoke,” encourages children to envision a world without tobacco or exposure to secondhand smoke. Entries will be accepted from children in the US in grades 3-12 and children abroad ages 13-18. Winners can win up to $500 and a trip to Orlando, Florida as well as a matching amount for their school. This year’s contest is an initiative of the Academy’s Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, supported by the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, and dedicated to eliminating children's exposure to tobacco and secondhand smoke. The Richmond Center website has a section with tools and resources to enable educators to create lessons on the topics of tobacco and secondhand smoke. Entries must be postmarked by July 31, 2013. Click here for full contest information.

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