Preventing youth use of tobacco products: the role of nursing

In the 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 1998a), 70.2% of high school students reported cigarette use, 36.4% were current cigarette smokers, and 16.7% reported frequent cigarette use (as measured by more than 20 in the last 30 days). Current tobacco use by all racial and ethnic groups is 42.7% (48.2% male, 36.0% female). Preventing youth tobacco use requires nurses to be active in many different domains. Public health experts agree that tobacco control efforts must target youth, with the goal of preventing tobacco product use and dependence. Nurses need to be actively involved in directing resources and talents toward public awareness and tobacco prevention programs, formulating public policy initiatives to control youth access to tobacco, and initiating cessation programs for youth. Efforts can be targeted at the schools, community, and health care system, as well as the public policy arena and media campaigns.