Study finds anti-smoking
ads effective on youth

State-sponsored anti-tobacco advertising has dramatically reduced smoking among youth across the country, a new study shows.

Data from more than 51,000 students in the 75 largest U.S. media markets found anti-tobacco advertising prevents kids from smoking and changes their attitudes toward tobacco.

Researchers from a University of Illinois policy research program, Bridging the Gap, and the University of Michigan conducted the study.

It was funded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Drug Abuse and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and published in the July issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

State health director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said: "The study further demonstrates why tobacco settlement dollars are needed to continue building Hawaii's comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program, which includes anti-smoking ads like those in the study.

"Hawaii's aggressive countermarketing campaigns are an effective investment that are showing promise in reducing youth smoking that will eventually save lives and reduce smoking-related health care costs."

The 2003 Hawaii Youth Tobacco Survey showed a reduction of almost 60 percent in smoking among middle school students, and nearly a 40 percent reduction among high school students, from spring 2000 to fall 2003, the state Health Department reported.

Only 5.3 percent of middle school students and 14.9 percent of high school students reported smoking during the last 30 days in the 2003 report.

Hawaii's tobacco prevention and cessation program includes public awareness media campaigns, school and community education programs, enforcement of laws banning tobacco sales to minors and programs to help smokers quit.

Hawaii also has high tobacco taxes and smoke-free workplace laws.

Tobacco use is the No. 1 preventable cause of death in Hawaii, accounting for nearly 1,000 deaths and $525 million a year in health care bills and lost productivity, according to the Health Department.