Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Healthy People 2010 Goal of Interest: 
 I chose to do my Advocacy Project on Reducing Tobacco Use by Adolescents.

Objective: Reduction in Tobacco Use by Students in Grades 9 Through 12
Target: 21%
Baseline: 40% of students Grades 9 through 12 used some kind of tobacco product (in the past month) in 1999.

Progress Quotient Chart:
According to the progress quotient chart for reducing tobacco use by students grades 9 through 12, it is moving towards its goal by 68%. The progress quotient value can be found by taking the most recent value subtracted by the baseline value, over, the year 2010 target subtracted by the baseline value, and multiplying that answer by 100.


Opportunities and Challenges: 
Every year tobacco causes more than 440,000 deaths in the United States. And of these 440,000 deaths, 38,000 are from secondhand smoke. In fact in the last 40 years around 12 million Americans have died prematurely because of smoking!!! Strides are being made in reducing secondhand smoke in public places, much like in Minnesota. The following are some ideas for improving the high tobacco use among adolescents grades 9-12: increased tobacco prices, smoke-free policies in workplaces, public places and schools, reduced prices on cessation services, and telephone quitlines.

Emerging Issues:
Cigarettes are currently the main way that tobacco is being used by adolescents. However, smokeless tobacco/chew is an emerging issues that must be addressed. Internet sales of tobacco is yet another way that adolescents are illegally getting their hands on tobacco products. Recent surveys also show that it is much easier to obtain tobacco from friends and family.

Disparities: 
For race and ethnicity American Indian and Alaska Native have the highest rate of using tobacco, followed by adolescents of two or more races. For gender and education males have a higher rate or use than females. Adolescents that have not received their high school diploma are also more likely to use tobacco products. Finally adolescents that come from a family of poor income are more likely to use tobacco as are those with disabilities.


H.R.1256
Title: Regulate tobacco products in order to protect public health. Amend title 5 in order to make changes in the Thrift Savings Plan, Civil Service Retirement System, and Federal Employees' Retirement System.
Sponsor:  Rep. Waxman, Henry A. Introduced 3/3/2009
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-31
Recommendation:  Vote yes for  H.R.1256. 
My Political Representative(s): Congresswoman Kate Knuth