A Comprehensive Examination of the Influence of State Tobacco Control Programs and Policies on Youth Smoking

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the influence of tobacco control policies (tobacco control program expenditures, smoke-free air laws, youth access law compliance, and cigarette prices) on youth smoking outcomes (smoking susceptibility, past-year initiation, current smoking, and established smoking). Methods. We combined data from the 2002 to 2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health with state and municipality population data from the US Census Bureau to assess the associations between state tobacco control policy variables and youth smoking outcomes, focusing on youths aged 12 to 17 years. We also examined the influence of policy variables on youth access when these variables were held at 2002 levels. Results. Per capita funding for state tobacco control programs was negatively associated with all 4 smoking outcomes. Smoke-free air laws were negatively associated with all outcomes except past-year initiation, and cigarette prices were associated only with current smoking. We found no association between these outcomes and retailer compliance with youth access laws. Conclusions. Smoke-free air laws and state tobacco control programs are effective strategies for curbing youth smoking.

Variations in state use of antitobacco message themes predict youth smoking prevalence in the USA, 1999–2005

“…[2][3][4] Contrary to previous work, however, we found no significant association between state tobacco control funding and youth smoking rates. [2][3][4] At the same time, previous studies that have found evidence for effects of state funding on youth smoking have not accounted for media campaign exposure in the same model. Since media campaigns most likely represent the largest expenditure in state tobacco control programmes, 24 we suspect that this finding can be explained by the fact that we measured and accounted for the effects of antismoking ad exposure in our study.…”

“…1 There is strong evidence that comprehensive tobacco control programmes were a major contributor to the observed declines in youth smoking prevalence during this time period. [2][3][4] Mass media campaigns are widely accepted as an integral part of these programmes, 4 5 and numerous studies link campaign exposure to reduced smoking prevalence in the USA. [5][6][7][8] A parallel body of work has sought to identify characteristics of effective antismoking advertisements (ads; public service announcements (PSAs)), emphasising the importance of both thematic content and stylistic features.…”

Independent and Interactive Effects of Smoking Bans and Tobacco Taxes on a Cohort of US Young Adults

“…6 A wide array of research has suggested that excise taxes and clean air policies are efficacious tobacco control policy tools, but these studies have come with several limitations that prohibit linking policy with actual individual-level behavior. For clean air policies, studies have inferred the effects of such prohibitions through cohort effects, 7 relied on cross-sectional data, 8–10 have not considered city-level policy, 9–13 or used data within a single locality. 14–15 Studies have also found robust effects of excise taxes on tobacco use.…”

Impact of the 2009 Taiwan Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act on Smoking Cessation

“…For example, during the 1990s California's comprehensive tobacco control programme, which started in 1989, increased the population cessation rate significantly when compared to other US states with weak tobacco control programmes [14]. In addition, evidence from the United States showed that comprehensive state tobacco control programmes were effective in decreasing adult smoking prevalence [15] and curbing youth smoking [16]. Apart from the general effect of the 2009 Act, we found little difference by demographic factors.…”