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

Abstract #68790

DeAnn Lazovich, PhD, Jean L. Forster, PhD, and Pamela Kelberer, MA. Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd St, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015, 612-626-9099, lazovich@epi.umn.edu

In many states, youth access laws include penalties for minor possession or use of tobacco. In Minnesota, the law allows cited youth to attend a tobacco diversion program in lieu of fines. We surveyed county attorneys from every state county (n=87), tobacco diversion coordinators (n=47) and adolescents (n=4242) to assess enforcement level, tobacco diversion program quality, and youth awareness and participation. Of 10 priorities for youth, attorneys ranked tobacco eighth. Accurate data on enforcement were difficult to obtain. Although almost all counties reported enforcement of the law, available data suggested that only 1-2% of all adolescents were cited for tobacco possession. Only 8.1% of counties reported receiving resources and 21.8% provided training for law enforcement. Tobacco diversion classes typically lasted 2 hours or less; only 21% include 2 or more sessions. Program goals included increasing health knowledge (69.2%), knowledge of legal consequences (50.0%), knowledge of quit methods (23.0%) and moving adolescent smokers along the stages of change continuum (11.5%). However, smoking cessation was not an explicit goal of any program. Overall, there was little variation in approach or materials used by programs. Among adolescents, 59% reported having heard of smokers being caught by police or school, but only 3.3% reported receiving a citation and 1.9% reported attending a class for smokers. Enforcement of youth possession laws with attendance in tobacco diversion classes may have potential to reach and help large numbers of adolescent smokers to quit. Currently, this approach to youth tobacco control falls short of its potential in Minnesota.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe level of enforcement of the tobacco possession by minors component of the Minnesota Youth Access law
• To describe goals and program approaches of Tobacco Diversion programs
• To describe adolescent awareness and participation in tobacco diversion programs
• To identify strengths and weaknesses of enforcement and diversion for affecting changes in youth tobacco use.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Youth Access

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.