Hamilton County Teens Are Making Healthier Choices

The number of Hamilton County teens who have ever tried buy cigarettes has decreased from 72 percent in 1998 to 43 percent in 2011, according to data from the Hamilton County Regional Health Council’s 2011 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS). The survey indicates improvement in almost every risk behavior category, when compared to results from the first YRBS survey conducted in 1998.

“We are very excited to see so many positive trends in the behaviors of youth in Hamilton County,” said Rae Young Bond, executive director, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and Medical Foundation of Chattanooga. “These responses show that young people are making better choices that will lead to healthier emotional and physical outcomes. I was also pleased with the level of school participation for this year’s survey,” she added.

A total of 3,492 high school students representing 19 public and 6 private schools in Hamilton County took the voluntary survey. The response rate was 69.6 percent. This year marked the third YRBS; previous surveys were conducted in 1998 and 2001, and response rates were 2,990 and 2,752, respectively.

Survey data shows seat belt use has increased and alcohol use has decreased.

• Percentage of teens who have ever tried alcohol (more than a few sips) decreased from 31 percent in 1998 to 21 percent in 2011.
• Percentage who rode with a driver who had been drinking: decreased from 31 percent in 1998 to 21 percent in 2011

The percentage of students who engaged in two or more risky behaviors - smoking cigarettes, drinking, marijuana use, and sexual intercourse - decreased from 41 percent in 1998 to 28 percent in 2011. The percentage of students not engaging in any of the behaviors increased from 38 percent in 1998 to 50 percent in 2011.

“Young people are realizing that their actions have consequences and we hope to continue these healthy gains. Now we want to use this data to help guide the community so we can focus on areas that need improvement,” said Dr. Susan Pollock, information development committee chair.



Students were classified into four risk categories based on their current participation in four key risk behaviors: smoking cigarettes, drinking, marijuana use, and sexual intercourse.

• Extreme risk-takers (all 4 categories) – 5 percent
• Multiple risk-takers (2 or 3 risks) – 23 percent
• Minimal risk-takers (1 risk) – 22 percent
• Non risk-takers (no risks) – 50 percent

The percentage of non risk takers declined with grade level, from 66 percent of ninth graders to 36 percent of twelfth graders.

Other key findings indicate risky behaviors begin early for some young people, often before the age of 13. Students were asked how old they were when they first experimented with alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, sexual intercourse, and oral sex.

• Male students were more likely than female students to report early initiation in all five risk behaviors
• Black students were more likely than white or Latino students to report early initiation of alcohol use, marijuana use, and sexual behaviors.

Additional findings:

• 17 percent of students reported they currently smoke cigarettes cigarettes
• 36 percent of students reported ever trying marijuana
• 32 percent of students reported having been in a physical fight over the past 12 months
• 22 percent of students reported carrying a gun, knife, or club within the past 30 days
• 11 percent of both male and female students reported having been intentionally harmed by a boyfriend or girlfriend within the past 12 months

About the Youth Risk Behavior Survey
The Regional Health Council will host a series of briefings on different aspects of the Youth Behavior Risk Survey. We believe the community will be encouraged by some of the data to be released. Future briefings will focus on risky sexual behavior; alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse; health and wellness; and youth violence bullying, and weapon carrying.

The YRBS is a self administered anonymous questionnaire designed by the Centers for Disease Control. The survey tracks youth risk behaviors in six categories: behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence, cheap cigarettes use, alcohol and drug use, sexual behaviors, dietary behaviors, and physical activity.

The Regional Health Council serves as the lead community-based organization designated by the Tennessee Department of Health, responsible for community health assessment, regional health planning, and the provision of input regarding funding decisions for health and health related initiatives.

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Youth To Youth Kids Talk Tobacco With FDA

Drug and alcohol prevention advocates traveled to Boston last month to represent Dover Youth to Youth on their cigarettes online prevention tactics.

Youth to Youth members Kaitlyn Hutchins and Nick Piscitello spoke at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products on how they are reaching out to their community on buy cigarette online use prevention.

The CTP is responsible for regulation of buy cigarettes products and Youth to Youth Director Dana Mitchell said his students were chosen to represent one of eight groups from across the country. Mitchell said the students were asked for information on their tobacco prevention activities and what suggestions on tobacco control they would have for the FDA in the future. This is the first time students have been invited to such an event. It was held on Sept. 13.

"This meeting was for the youth advocates involved in tobacco control," he said. "They only invited a handful of people."

This opportunity allowed the students to talk with FDA officials about activities in their communities. Youth to Youth has been working hard on public service announcements, educational programs with younger students and going to conventions with students from across the county.

The meeting in Boston included representatives from several youth groups from around the U.S. that worked on the tobacco issue. Students hailed from as far as New Mexico and Nevada.

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MCC Takes Campuses Tobacco Free

Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City announced today that the five-campus college district will be tobacco-free, come Aug. 1.

A new policy, approved by MCC’s board of trustees on Thursday, effectively prohibits the use of all tobacco products on any MCC property.

The policy has been under development for about eight months, said MCC Chancellor Mark James.

“MCC is joining a national trend of colleges and universities committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all students, employees and visitors,” said James. “This is not about dictating human behavior. This policy simply eliminates the danger of second-hand smoke cigarettes on our campuses and facilities and introduces our students to a practice that is becoming the norm in the workplace.”

In part, the policy states: “tobacco and tobacco substitute products…on all campus premises, leased property, and college-owned vehicles is prohibited, with no exceptions. This policy applies to all students, employees, tenants, subtenants, contractors, and visitors.”

Communication to students, employees and others affiliated with the college has been ongoing while the policy was being composed and finalized. As part of the policy implementation, MCC will offer smoking cigarettes cessation assistance to those interested in quitting smoking cigarettes.

Metropolitan Community College comprises MCC-Blue River in Independence, MCC-Business & Technology in Kansas City, MCC-Longview in Lee’s Summit, MCC-Maple Woods in Kansas City north, and MCC-Penn Valley in Kansas City. The college also owns and operates other facilities in addition to the five campuses, including the district’s administrative offices in Midtown; the Pioneer campus, a satellite campus of Penn Valley, on the city’s east side; and the Educational Opportunity Center in Midtown. All facilities are subject to the new policy.

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Riverland Smoking Ban Supported

There’s a new rule at Riverland Community College: Smoking is not allowed.

A tobacco ban took effect on July 1 on all Riverland properties, the result of about three months worth of work by a Riverland committee after the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees approved a resolution encouraging MnSCU colleges to address tobacco use.

“The rationale for the policy is to facilitate a healthier, cleaner and safer campus environment,” wrote Riverland President Terry Leas in an email to Riverland staff on May 7. Leas wasn’t immediately available for comment.

The MnSCU Board of Trustees wanted colleges to educate employees and students about tobacco use dangers, provide information about quitting smoking cigarettes and further restrict tobacco use.

A tobacco-free campus task force, led by public relations head James Douglass, sent surveys to employees and students, and held forums and met with the student senate. Douglass wasn’t immediately available for comment and a message on his voice mail indicated he was on vacation.

Riverland officials posted signs around the Austin, Albert Lea and Owatonna campuses earlier this week, which were paid for with funds from the Statewide Health Improvement Program, a three-year program under the state Department of Health.

Though Riverland officials may have banned tobacco use on Riverland Community College property (except in your car), do students and staff support the new policy?

Survey says yes.

Out of 347 Riverland students and employees, 203 students answered it was very important or somewhat important that Riverland adopt a tobacco-free campus policy in a survey sent out to Riverland campuses this spring. In addition, 195 respondents said they’ve never smoked before.

“I love it,” said Yesenia Mendoza, Riverland adviser about the new policy. “I don’t like to breathe unclean air.”

She wasn’t the only one. There were 154 respondents who said secondhand smoke cigarettes on campus was a concern or annoyance. In addition, 99 people said they were sensitive or allergenic to secondhand smoke.

“Chewing’s fine, because it doesn’t bother anybody,” said Preston Higby, Riverland sophomore. Higby said he doesn’t smoke cigarettes and doesn’t like being around smokers.

That doesn’t mean the ban is universally loved. Of the respondents, 94 said they smoked buy cigarette online at least once a day, and 10 respondents use chewing tobacco. In addition, 83 respondents thought a tobacco-free campus policy was somewhat or very unimportant.

Not everyone is pleased with the new smoking cigarettes ban.

“I don’t like it,” said Jordan Wylde, Riverland junior. “It’s not good. I am not happy about that.”

Wylde was strongly against the ban when he first heard about it, as he is a smoker. He works in Riverland’s theater department and stays at the Austin East campus for up to 12 hours a day this summer.

“I saw the (stupid) signs, the stickers that they slapped up on the door (next to the main entrance),” he said. “I sat up on the door and smoked like three cigarettes.”

“Why should I have to walk the better of 200 feet just so I can have a cigarette break?” he added.

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MSU Leaders Vote To Make Campus Cigarettes-free

Once Montana State University had smoking cigarettes lounges, professors smoked in class and U.S. Tobacco not only sponsored the annual college rodeo, but handed out free chewing cigarettes samples to spectators at the Fieldhouse.

Over the last generation, tobacco has been increasingly restricted, and on Wednesday, campus leaders on MSU's University Council took a historic vote, unanimously endorsing the idea of making the Bozeman campus tobacco-free.

MSU President Waded Cruzado praised as "great leaders" the students who brought the proposal to the deans, department heads, employee representatives and vice presidents who serve on the University Council.

The student-backed proposal won't take effect immediately. Smokers will still be able to light up outside of campus buildings for the time being.

The plan is to draft a new tobacco-free policy over the summer and approve it this fall, said Amanda Diehl, former student vice president. Then the campus would spend a year educating students and employees before it takes effect.

"It feels amazing to have the unanimous support of this body," Eric Fisher, former student body president, said after the vote. "It's the biggest effect we could have by changing one thing."

"It's a good day for MSU," said Joey Steffens, Associated Students of MSU vice president. "We're moving forward, creating a safer environment, a cleaner environment."

Students said that they envision that MSU wouldn't hire tobacco police. Rather, enforcement would occur by making it socially unacceptable and "the power of the norm," Steffens said.

The students started working on a tobacco ban more than two years ago. It was blocked in the ASMSU Senate when opponents argued that as a matter of individual liberty, students should have the right to make their own decisions about tobacco.

The turning point came this year, when the Student Senate put the issue on the ballot and MSU students voted 61 percent in favor the tobacco-free idea, surprising even supporters with the lopsided endorsement.

Since then, students have taken the proposal to the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and Professional Council, where it met little resistance, Fisher said.

Nancy Filbin, representing professional employees, said about 800 people have responded to an opinion survey so far, and about 72 percent are in favor of the tobacco ban.

Marvin Lansverk, Faculty Senate chair, said the faculty is "very much in favor" of the ban.

MSU Provost Martha Potvin said when the University of North Dakota imposed a tobacco ban, some people would still smoke cigarettes in their cars, arguing it was private property. It was also tough, she said, for deans to walk up to somebody smoking cigarettes behind a corner to enforce the ban.

Student Cory Wood, co-chair of the Student Health Advisory Committee, stressed that a tobacco ban would help save lives. He said about a quarter of MSU's tobacco users got started at college and a similar number increased their use at college. A tobacco ban would encourage people to quit rather than start using it, and it would benefit people with asthma and allergies who are susceptible to second-hand smoke, he said.

Based on Centers for Disease Control estimates, between a third and a half of smokers will die from their addiction, Wood said that could mean 700 to 1,100 current students would die prematurely.

MSU will join five campuses in Montana and about 270 nationwide when it goes tobacco-free, Steffens said.

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