Youth Prevention

Research

New study confirms states can reduce youth smoking with well-funded prevention programs, higher tobacco taxes and strong smoke-free laws
A new study reports that the tobacco control "trifecta" of science-based policies – tobacco taxes, tobacco prevention funding, and smoke-free laws – is effective in reducing youth smoking rates. Researchers assessed data from the 2002 to 2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health in conjunction with state and municipality population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Associations were found between state tobacco control variables and smoking outcomes among youth ages 12-17. It was reported that the reduction in youth smoking prevalence during the 2002 and 2008 timeframe can be attributed to a combination of three tobacco control strategies: tobacco control program funding, smoke-free air laws, and pricing. The policy changes enacted from 2002-2008 have resulted in a reduction in the number of youth smokers in the U.S. by about 220,000. Click here to read more in the American Journal of Public Health. Click here to access the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ press release about this study.

Movie smoking and youth initiation: Parsing smoking imagery and other adult content
A recent study examined the influence of exposure to smoking in movies on youth. The telephone-based New York Longitudinal Youth Tobacco Evaluation Survey (NY-LYTES) assessed youth ages 13-16 for exposure to smoking in movies, openness to trying smoking, and experimentation with smoking. Exposure to smoking imagery and exposure to adult content in movies were both positively correlated with openness to smoking and trying smoking. Because the two risk factors, smoking imagery and adult content, were highly correlated, the researchers note that future studies are needed to tease out the independent effects of the two exposures and protect youth from becoming smokers. Click here to read the study abstract and full report published in PLoS ONE.

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Reports

Shareholders file anti-smoking resolutions with movie companies
Movie company shareholders are hoping to reduce smoking rates among youth by filing resolutions that would get rid of smoking in movies designed for young people or require movies featuring smoking to carry an R-rating. These resolutions were based off of a report released by the U.S. Surgeon General that stated that smoking in movies is associated with increased smoking behaviors among youth. Shareholder resolutions have been filed with Time Warner, CBS, and Comcast with similar impending resolutions to be filed with The Walt Disney Co., News Corp, Sony, and Viacom. Click here to read more.

Survey of tobacco sales to minors in KY shows 94 percent compliance rate (KY)
A recent survey of retail tobacco outlets in Kentucky finds that the majority were in compliance with the law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to youth under 18 years old. The annual Synar survey was conducted by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and it was reported that 94.4% of the tobacco retailers surveyed were in compliance. Kentucky’s average compliance violation rate of 9.5% for the entire duration of the program from 1997-2012 is below the national average of 15.8%. Maintaining a low violation rate has been integral in preventing youth from smoking and using tobacco in the state. Click here to read more. Click here to access the report.

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