State says fewer
teens using tobacco
Posted 11/7/02

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Sept. 18, that teen tobacco use in the state declined substantially over the past two years. According to the department's Youth Tobacco Survey, the use of tobacco products by middle school and high school students dropped by 11 percent between 2000 and 2002. The decrease in cigarette smoking for middle school students was even more impressive, with a 21 percent drop.

"When the Legislature created the tobacco endowment in 1999 to fund youth tobacco prevention programs, they established a goal of reducing teen tobacco use by 30 percent by 2005," said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm. "Our survey shows we're on track to reach that goal."

Research by MDH indicates that reaching the goal will ultimately prevent 1,700 premature deaths and save $480 million in health care costs every year in Minnesota.

Efforts in Mille Lacs County are contributing to the success of endowment funded programs and will help to save Mille Lacs County taxpayers and business owners money as well. Based on Department of Health estimates, tobacco use costs Mille Lacs County citizens and businesses $7,176,004 a year in health care and lost productivity.

According to Anthony Buttacavoli (Mille Lacs County Health Educator), "If our efforts and success here in Mille Lacs County and across the state continue to be successful, we'll save health care costs and save lives."

Mille Lacs County has been working with the state since the beginning of the state's youth tobacco prevention initiative focusing on tobacco compliance checks, merchant education, school education, local ordinances/policies, promotion of smoke-free environments and tobacco diversion for youths.

The numbers, says Buttacavoli, should send a clear message to public officials.

"Some elected officials and candidates have proposed using these tobacco endowments to plug the holes in the state's budget," said Buttacavoli. "I think the decrease in youth tobacco use numbers demonstrate the effectiveness and positive outlook of this endowment. Cutting any of these funds would be irresponsible and a step backwards for our community."

While the news from the survey was mostly good, more than 70 percent of high schoolers and half of middle schoolers reported being exposed to secondhand smoke during the previous week.

"It's alarming," said Buttacavoli, "we know secondhand smoke is dangerous and it is particularly damaging to youth. In Mille Lacs County we are trying to address this problem by encouraging businesses to go smoke-free and assisting those who want to quit smoking."

Youth tobacco use prevention efforts in Mille Lacs County are funded by grants from the state's Youth Tobacco Prevention Initiative. The Initiative is funded by the tobacco endowment which resulted from the state's 1998 settlement with the tobacco industry.