141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

280433
Engaging youth in point of sale tobacco control advocacy

Monday, November 4, 2013

Chaunetta Jones, MPH, MA , Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Adrienne Gill, MPH , Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Curran Kennedy, MPH , Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Sarah Newman, MPH , Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Issues: The 2012 U.S. Surgeon General's Report offers evidence supporting a causal link between tobacco advertising at the point of sale (POS) and the initiation and continuation of smoking among youth. CounterTobacco.org has created innovative Youth Engagement Activities, pre-packaged lesson plans that engage youth in advocating for reduced point of sale tobacco marketing. Description: A Walking Tobacco Audit was created to highlight the number of tobacco advertisements at retail establishments on students' routes to school. The activity was pilot tested in partnership with a tobacco youth advocacy group who counted 48 exterior advertisements within a four block radius of a local elementary school. Following the audit, youth worked together to develop a visual display of their observations to be presented to local politicians, teachers, and parents. Lessons Learned: POS marketing was shown to be prevalent throughout the audit. The considerable number of advertisements underscored the importance of tobacco control advocacy at the POS, particularly as it relates to youth exposure. Recommendations: Youth are important partners in tobacco control advocacy. Youth Engagement Activities equip them to advocate for stricter tobacco control policies. A standardized process of developing these activities will increase their use, engage more youth, and lead to a decrease in POS tobacco marketing.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe how Youth Engagement Activities are an innovative tool for youth to advocate for changes in point of sale tobacco policies. Discuss the importance of engaging youth in point of sale tobacco control advocacy.

Keywords: Youth, Tobacco Control

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked closely with Counter Tobacco for one year. I am experienced in tobacco control advocacy at the point of sale and was directly responsible for development and piloting of the youth engagement activities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.