A comprehensive examination of the influence of state tobacco control programs and policies on youth smoking.

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.

[1]  J. Nonnemaker,et al.  Smoking initiation among youth: the role of cigarette excise taxes and prices by race/ethnicity and gender. , 2011, Journal of health economics.

[2]  T. Frieden.  A framework for public health action: the health impact pyramid. , 2010, American journal of public health.

[3]  R. Iannotti,et al.  Tobacco control policy and adolescent cigarette smoking status in the United States. , 2009, Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.

[4]  D. Erickson,et al.  The relationship between local clean indoor air policies and smoking behaviours in Minnesota youth , 2008, Tobacco Control.

[5]  L. Biener,et al.  Local restaurant smoking regulations and the adolescent smoking initiation process: results of a multilevel contextual analysis among Massachusetts youth. , 2008, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.

[6]  T. Pechacek,et al.  The impact of tobacco control programs on adult smoking. , 2008, American journal of public health.

[7]  Christopher S. Carpenter,et al.  Cigarette Taxes and Youth Smoking: New Evidence from National, State, & Local Youth Risk Behavior Surveys , 2007, Journal of health economics.

[8]  D. Kenkel,et al.  Youth Smoking, Cigarette Prices, and Anti-Smoking Sentiment , 2006, Health economics.

[9]  D. Weitzenkamp,et al.  Youth smoking prevention and tobacco industry revenue , 2006, Tobacco Control.

[10]  G. Giovino,et al.  State tobacco control spending and youth smoking. , 2005, American journal of public health.

[11]  R. Brownson,et al.  Strength of clean indoor air laws and smoking related outcomes in the USA , 2005, Tobacco Control.

[12]  F. Chaloupka,et al.  The impact of tobacco control program expenditures on aggregate cigarette sales: 1981–2000 , 2003 .

[13]  M. Schoeny,et al.  Evaluating the effects of enforcements and fines on youth smoking , 2003 .

[14]  Stanton A Glantz,et al.  Youth access interventions do not affect youth smoking. , 2002, Pediatrics.

[15]  D. Kenkel,et al.  Putting Out the Fires: Will Higher Taxes Reduce the Onset of Youth Smoking? , 2002, Journal of Political Economy.

[16]  Dianne C Barker,et al.  Effect of restrictions on smoking at home, at school, and in public places on teenage smoking: cross sectional study , 2000, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[17]  F. Chaloupka,et al.  The Economics of Smoking , 1991 .