Youth Prevention

Research

Fewer tobacco products, but not alcohol, in movies
A recent study adds to the growing body of literature on tobacco and alcohol use in mass media. Researchers from Dartmouth University examined trends in tobacco and alcohol use in the top 100 box office hits from 1996 to 2009. Findings from the study show tobacco brand appearances declined considerably during 1996 to 2009 while alcohol brand appearances in youth-rated moves trended upward. The results of the study suggest externally enforced constraints as have been imposed on tobacco marketing under the Master Settlement Agreement, rather than the current self-regulation by alcohol companies, may help decrease youth exposure to alcohol and tobacco use in the media. To read more about the study, click here. To view the full abstract in JAMA Pediatrics, click here.

Anti-tobacco policy in schools: upcoming preventive strategy or prevention myth? A review of 31 studies
A review of 31 peer-reviewed articles that examined the effectiveness of school tobacco-free policies on youth smoking was published in Tobacco Control. The majority of studies included in the analysis were based in North America. Results of the analysis indicate research on the effectiveness of anti-tobacco policies is inconclusive, and lacks experimental, quasiexperimental, and longitudinal study design. Researchers conclude that more rigorous experimental or observational studies are warranted to determine the role of policy in preventing tobacco use among high school students. To read the study abstract, click here.

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Reports

By the beach, the sidewalk, and the concert stage: truth® youth smoking prevention campaign kicks off 2013 annual summer tour
Legacy, the national public health foundation that directs and funds the truth® campaign, kicked off the annual truth summer tour on June 15th in Seattle, Washington. The truth tour, now in its fourteenth year, will visit more than 60 cities and 30 states this summer and fall. The tour and larger truth campaign aims to educate teens on tobacco marketing tactics and the additives and effects of tobacco use. truth is the largest national youth smoking prevention campaign and the only national campaign not directed by the tobacco industry. To read a press release from Legacy announcing the tour, click here. Visit the truth website here.

Group targets teens with texts about smoking
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is promoting a smartphone application (app) to help young tobacco users quit called “NCI QuitPal.” The smartphone app collects information on each user and tailors text message timing and messaging based on each individual’s information needs. The smartphone app is part of the larger smokefree.gov initiative, which aims to provide tobacco cessation support to hard-to-reach groups including women, Latinos, veterans, and youth. A 2012 report found more than 3.6 million high school and middle school students are current smokers. Click here for background information, or find out more about NCI’s three smartphone apps, including QuitPal, here.

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