Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105571

Mary A. Toborg, MPA, Michael G. Meyer, Leslie Thornton, MA, and Sharon A. Denham, RN, DSN. Toborg Associates, Inc., 1129 Twentieth Street, N.W., Suite 108, Washington, DC 20036, 202-776-0112, lthornton@toborg.net

Five hundred thirty-four counties in 18 states grow tobacco and are home to 29,497,852 persons. Data indicate youth in these areas use tobacco earlier and use it more frequently. Tobacco communities have a unique perspective based on the cultural, social, and economic import of tobacco which requires a sensitive approach to adolescent cessation efforts. A qualitative study of tobacco-using adolescents from these communities included 16 focus groups of youth and 30 key informant interviews. Adolescent participants were 160 males and females aged 14 to 18. Key informants were cessation professionals who worked with youth from tobacco-growing communities. The focus group research occurred in tobacco-growing counties in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, and Georgia. Key findings from focus groups included community influences on youth tobacco use; preferred learning styles of these young people; perceptions about tobacco-growing in their communities; cultural influences on coping mechanisms; knowledge about cessation options available; and the functional value of tobacco in the lives of these youth. Barriers identified by key informants included community norms around tobacco use, family use of tobacco, school practices and policies, peer influences, youth attitudes, and logistical difficulties with cessation program efforts. Youth in tobacco-growing regions share circumstances with youth in other parts of the nation, but they also face unique problems that require redress through specially crafted cessation techniques.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

(
• identify five developmental characteristics of older adolescents who live in tobacco-growing communities that influence tobacco cesstion; (
• describe five barriers to tobacco cessation for older adolescents who live in tobacco-growing communities; and (
• describe at least three components of an effective tobacco cessation program for older adolescents who use tobacco and live in tobacco-growing communities.

Keywords: Tobacco, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.