Humana HealthBeat Transcript Archive

August 11

Adolescents and Tobacco

While more adults are quitting, more children and teenagers are taking their first drag or chew, setting them up to be lifelong tobacco users.

The increase in smoking among adolescents may be influenced by what’s happening at home and work. According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association devoted to the topic of tobacco, adolescents who lived in smoke-free households were only 74% as likely to be smokers as adolescents who lived in homes with no smoking restrictions. Findings were similar for smoke-free work places.

The laws to prevent children from smoking do make a difference, if they are followed. Researchers analyzed FDA compliance checks in 36 states and found that the initial rate of illegal sales was about 26 percent—and the most significant reason was that clerks failed to request proof of age. And just asking is a strong deterrent-- when proof of age was requested, the rate of illegal purchase went from 89% to 10.5%.

Finally, school programs also make a difference. Two years after the Florida pilot program on tobacco control began, cigarette use went down among middle and high school students and the numbers of students who never used tobacco went up.

What can we do as parents to prevent children from smoking?

Restrict smoking at home and make sure the rules are enforced, just as you would for alcohol or drugs. And if you smoke, try to quit—that provides an excellent example. And talk to your kids about the dangers of tobacco and support them in activities that keep them from tobacco use.

Resources:

Journal of the American Medical Association
www.jama.com

Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/tobacco

August 11
Adolescents and Tobacco
	While more adults are quitting, more children and teenagers are taking their first drag or chew, setting them up to be lifelong tobacco users. The increase in smoking among adolescents may be influenced by what’s happening at home and work. According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association devoted to the topic of tobacco, adolescents who lived in smoke-free households were only 74% as likely to be smokers as adolescents who lived in homes with no smoking restrictions. Findings were similar for smoke-free work places. The laws to prevent children from smoking do make a difference, if they are followed. Researchers analyzed FDA compliance checks in 36 states and found that the initial rate of illegal sales was about 26 percent—and the most significant reason was that clerks failed to request proof of age. And just asking is a strong deterrent-- when proof of age was requested, the rate of illegal purchase went from 89% to 10.5%. Finally, school programs also make a difference. Two years after the Florida pilot program on tobacco control began, cigarette use went down among middle and high school students and the numbers of students who never used tobacco went up.

	What can we do as parents to prevent children from smoking? Restrict smoking at home and make sure the rules are enforced, just as you would for alcohol or drugs. And if you smoke, try to quit—that provides an excellent example. And talk to your kids about the dangers of tobacco and support them in activities that keep them from tobacco use.
	Resources: Journal of the American Medical Association www.jama.com Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/tobacco