[HKLB-Mental_Health] Recent studies on preventing youth tobacco use

[Isabelle S BARBOUR]

Pay attention to the first study- school policy effects on teenage girls smoking. Enjoy- Kirsten
 
Kirsten Aird, MPH
(971) 673-1053
kirsten.g.aird at state.or.us 
Training and School Programs Liaison
Tobacco Prevention and Education Program
Department of Human Services
800 NE Oregon St., Suite 730
Portland, OR 97232
 
>>> "MEINER Kylie A" <kylie.a.meiner at co.multnomah.or.us> 10/1/2007 2:57 PM >>>

Here you go!

The influence of school smoking policies on student tobacco use Recent research has helped elucidate the association between school smoking policies and levels of current smoking among students. Canadian researchers analyzed smoking data from 763 thirteen year-olds and 768 sixteen year-olds, as well as the smoking policies at each school included in the study. While no association between daily smoking and policies regulating student smoking and indoor faculty smoking were found, 13 year-old girls were approximately five times as likely to be daily smokes if they attended a school where faculty members were allowed to smoke outdoors. Click here to read more about the study, which is published in the September 4, 2007 issue of Neurology .

School, church activities may help curb youth smoking A recent study focused on identifying factors that protect disadvantaged youth from becoming smokers. Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed data regarding smoking habits of 824 ninth-grade students who all had grade point averages less than 3.0. Primary results indicate that students who participate in extracurricular school activities or church programs were less likely to smoke, even in the presence of similar neighborhood risk factors. Click here to read more about the study, which is published online in the American Journal of Public Health .

top 

 _____
Projects 

Washington : Anti-smoking ads turn off young viewers The Washington State Health Department and the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program are in the process of pilot-testing several anti-tobacco television ads that will appear later this year. They invited a number of 12 to 14 year olds to view the ads and provide feedback in several focus groups. The ads are quirky and full of teenage humor to capture the attention of this target audience. Some of the anti-smoking ads feature the No Stank You message and emphasize the physical and biological effects of smoking. Other ads expose teenagers to the unpleasant realities of chewing tobacco. Across the board teenagers enjoyed the ads and, more importantly, expressed that they did not want to start using tobacco products. To read more about the advertisements, click here .

British Medical Association publishes action plan to tackle teen smoking The British Medical Association of Scotland has released an action plan to help curb teenage smoking. The plan calls for a number of policy and legislative changes, which include: banning tobacco vending machines, introducing legislation to ban the sale of packs of ten cigarettes, introducing a positive licensing scheme to help enforce the increase in the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, banning cigarette displays at the point of sale, and investing in long-term smoking prevention programs and cessation services. To view a synopsis of the action plan, click here .

top 

Back to Table of Contents 


Kylie Meiner, MPH Tobacco Prevention Program Coordinator Chronic Disease Prevention Program Multnomah County Health Department 426 SW Stark, 9th Floor Portland , OR 97204 503-988-3663 ext. 29356 Fax: 503-988-3283