Effectiveness of school-based programs as a component of a statewide tobacco control initiative--Oregon, 1999-2000

Abstract

With funds available from revenue generated by a voter-initiated ballot measure to increase the state cigarette excise tax, the Oregon Health Division (OHD) created the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) in 1997. Coalitions in all Oregon counties, a countermarketing campaign, a statewide tobacco cessation quitters' helpline, and competitive grants to community groups, tribal associations, and school districts are supported by TPEP; 12% of TPEP's $8.5 million annual funding was used to implement CDC's Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction in 23 school districts or consortia of districts. Data from annual school-based surveys conducted to monitor adolescent risk behavior indicated that from 1999 to 2000, 30-day smoking prevalence among eighth grade students declined more in funded schools than in a comparison group of nonfunded schools. The declines were significantly greater among schools with high and medium levels of implementation. These results suggest that comprehensive school-based programs can be an effective component of statewide antitobacco efforts.