Tobacco use news good and bad in area
Twelve states belong to what researchers call Tobacco Nation because tobacco use is higher in these states than in other parts of the country. Spoiler alert: Ohio is one of the 12.
In fact, 22% of the residents in Tobacco Nation reported smoking tobacco in 2015 while in other states it was only 15%. Additionally, people in Tobacco Nation averaged 67 packs of cigarettes per year as opposed to 41 elsewhere (NNPHI). Finally, rural populations used more smokeless tobacco than urban ones, making our youth more susceptible to tobacco use and abuse.
More recently and closer to home, Wayne County students answered an anonymous survey (Wayne County YASUS 2019). The good news: When asked about lifetime tobacco use, 89.5% responded they had never used, a higher number than nationwide (87.9%).
However, only 65% of Wayne County youth believed there is great risk in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes daily, which was lower than nationwide (71%).
Rural communities are more at risk for tobacco use/abuse due to the following factors (all subsequent information is from CADCA): fewer healthcare resources or less access to those resources (travel distance to a doctor or limited internet access for virtual medical visits), tobacco ads often target rural residents, fewer local policies regarding tobacco sales and use, and tribal sovereignty.
Research shows the following are effective prevention efforts:
—Positive messaging (“smoke-free air”).
—Reaching out to lawmakers in support of prevention bills such as “Tobacco 21.”
—Mass media campaigns like “Tips from Former Smokers.”
Another effective prevention effort is advocating for local-level policies like Tobacco Retailer Licenses. Businesses with TRL have to pay renewal fees and are subject to violation penalties. How else does advocating for TRL benefit our coalition? It helps in the following ways:
—Maintains a list of tobacco and e-cigarette retailers.
—Provides retailers with education on the tobacco laws they must comply with.
—Ensures every retailer in a community is visited each year for a compliance check.
—Reduces the density or clustering of retailers.
—Restricts businesses located near schools or youth-oriented facilities from selling tobacco.
—Reduces sales to youth.
—Restricts the types of businesses that can sell tobacco.
What role do youth play in tobacco prevention? There are three main approaches when trying to reach youth, some more effective than others:
—Education alone is ineffective. While there is value to anti-drug lectures and substance-use prevention lessons in health class, research shows scare tactics do not work. Consequence-based presentations send youth the unwanted message that adults always know best. We want to avoid depicting youth as deficient, in need of fixing and without a voice.
—Involvement is better but still not best. Youth coalitions like Teen Institute give teens more of an active role. They may help with campaigns, events and advocacy and attend meetings. However, we must go beyond merely allowing student involvement in our prevention work. Often youth are acting as spokespeople when they’ve had no input into the scripts, and only the “good” kids are cultivated and given opportunities.
—Engagement is the goal. Young people should have just as much input as adults. Teens in youth coalitions can decide (with guidance) what they are going to say publicly on behalf of their coalition. They could co-lead meetings with adults, assist in decision-making, help with prevention research, and educate peers and community members. All of these efforts will help them gain valuable leadership skills.
Kristie Skaggs is from the CIRCLE Coalition.