Youth Prevention

Research

Youth smoking, obesity may lead to early death
A new study finds that young people who are obese, smoke, and have high blood sugar levels are more likely to die before the age of 55. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined data from 9,245 participants who were enrolled between 1988-1994 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) at ages 12 to 39. According to the results, those who reported being smokers had an 86% greater risk of dying before the age of 55 compared to nonsmokers. Additionally, those who were obese had a 139% higher likelihood of dying before 55, and those with high blood sugar levels were at 281% higher risk. Based on this research, effective strategies for preventing smoking and obesity among youths are needed. Click here to read more. Click here to read the study abstract published in Pediatrics.

Flavored tobacco product use among U.S. young adults
A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examined the prevalence of flavored tobacco use, dual use of flavored and menthol tobacco products, and socioeconomic predictors of flavored tobacco use among young adults ages 18-34 in the U.S. The researchers utilized data from Legacy’s nationally representative Young Adult Cohort Study in 2012. Overall, 18.5% of tobacco users reported using flavored products, and dual use (using cigarettes and another form of tobacco) varied widely; estimates ranged from 1% of smokers reporting use of nicotine products to 72% reporting using chewing tobacco. Younger adults, blacks, and menthol users were more likely to use flavored tobacco products, and those with less than a high school education more frequently reported using flavored products less than those with higher educational attainment. Additionally, the most common flavored products used were pipe tobacco, little cigars, and hookah. This study suggests that flavored tobacco products are most popular among youth, and are more likely to influence life-long tobacco use patterns. Click here to access the study abstract.

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Reports

Substance use among twelfth grade aged youths by dropout status
A recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report states that 56.8% of youth ages 16-18 who had dropped out of school were current cigarette users. This number is significantly higher than the 22.4% smoking prevalence among twelfth graders, their counterparts who had remained enrolled in school. The higher smoking rates among dropouts were consistent among genders, and for black and white youths. This report shows that smoking is one of many negative outcomes linked to dropping out of high school, and smoking prevention and cessation efforts are needed for adolescents who are at risk for dropping out or have dropped out of school. Click here to access the report.

Virginia teens urge stores to post tobacco-prevention signs (VA)
A statewide youth-smoking prevention campaign in Virginia has teens requesting that tobacco- prevention awareness signs be placed in stores. This letter-writing campaign, called the CounterBalance Campaign, is the result of a survey that was conducted by about 400 teens that were part of a youth leadership program that promotes healthy lifestyles in their communities over a 15-month period between 2011 and 2012. About 88% of the 6,438 participants agreed that tobacco ads in convenience stores and gas stations were “noticeable” or “very noticeable” and the majority (87%) reported that stores should post warnings about the health effects of tobacco use. Letters from the campaign are being sent to executives at 7-Eleven, Shell, Rite Aid, Sheetz and Wawa stores. Click here to read more. Click here to access the CounterBalance Exposure survey report.

New study says fewer Wyoming students drinking and smoking (WY)
According to a recent study conducted by the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center, there was a significant reduction from 2010 to 2012 in the number of junior high and high school students in the state reporting that they use alcohol and tobacco. Fifteen out of the 19 counties that participated in the survey saw a reduction in tobacco use, and 17 out of 19 reported a reduction in alcohol use. A study spokesperson states that students tend to overestimate how often and how much their peers use tobacco and alcohol. Click here to read more. Click here to access the 2012 Prevention Needs Assessment Survey results.

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International

Tobacco display and brand communication at the point of sale: Implications for adolescent smoking behavior (England)
Adolescent exposure to point-of-sale (POS) displays is associated with smoking susceptibility, according to a new study published in Tobacco Control. Researchers examined the association between tobacco brand communication and tobacco displays at the POS and smoking behaviors among adolescents. The results suggest that the more frequently an adolescent noticed tobacco displays, the susceptibility to smoking initiation increased compared to those who did not notice the displays. Also, the odds of ever-smoking were two times higher for those who visited shops almost daily compared to less than once per week. The association between POS exposure to tobacco displays and smoking susceptibility was mostly due to exposure in small shops. England has instilled a law that prohibits POS displays in larger shops. This study indicates that laws that ban tobacco displays in POS locations should also include small shops since those are where adolescent exposures are high. Click here to read the study abstract.

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