The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71265

Dana Jones Benet, MPH, Lisa J. LeRoy, MBA, Theresa H. Mason, PhD, Lisa A. Seidel, MPH, Kirsten L. Husak, MSW, Sean McKee, BA, and Sherry Mills, MD, MPH. Abt Associates Inc., 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, 617-349-2329, dana_benet@abtassoc.com

Introduction: Although smoking prevalence among youth continues to decrease in the U.S., teen smoking prevention remains a public health priority. Possible explanations for decline include stronger tobacco control policies, media campaigns, and decreased tobacco advertising¹. The American Lung Association’s (ALA) State of Tobacco Control 2002 report ranks states’ tobacco control policies². We examined ALA ratings for five states in relation to youth tobacco control movements.

Methods: As part of an American Legacy Foundation-funded national evaluation, data were collected from five Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use programs, 2000-2002. We conducted in-depth qualitative case studies including semi-structured interviews, focus groups, document reviews, and observations. The five states’ youth programs were analyzed and compared to the ALA report.

Results: Five design components are critical to successful youth empowerment programs: program structure, theory/vision, adult involvement, media campaigns, and program sustainability. All five states were successful in establishing a youth empowerment movement against tobacco but varied greatly in their implementation of programs. Findings highlight a policy paradox: 1) one of five states scored high on the ALA report card, but ranked low in youth program sustainability, 2) the state we ranked highest in the design components scored low on the ALA report.

Discussion: Tobacco control policies and youth empowerment programs are parts of five states’ efforts to reduce youth smoking rates. Although four of five states had low tobacco policy grades, all states successfully implemented youth empowerment programs. States limited in policy control options have demonstrated an ability to enact youth empowerment programs.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Discuss critical design components of youth empowerment programs against tobacco in context of individual states.
• 2. Conduct a needs assessment of critical design components before establishing a youth tobacco control movement.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.