Listening to the Communities We Serve - Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

Youth Smoking Prevention

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky conducted a series of workshops throughout the state to better understand the priority healthcare concerns of the Commonwealth.  Youth smoking was a top concern expressed in these workshops.

Facts About Kentucky

  • 25% of high school youth smoke1 vs. 23% nationwide2

  • High school smokers who were not asked for ID when buying cigarettes: 68%1

  • 55% of all high school students live with someone who smokes; 66% of high school smokers live with someone who smokes1

  • 20% of middle school students think peers who smoke have more friends1

  • Middle school smokers who were not asked for ID when buying cigarettes: 77%1

  • 84% of high school smokers believe smoking is harmful compared to 94% of peers who have never smoked
  • If cigarette prices were 10% higher, youth smoking would be 12% lower –RJ Reynolds3

Leading Organizations

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids- National and state research and initiatives

Kentucky Center for Smoke Free Policy- advancing smoke-free policies

American Cancer Society- provides a wealth of info and resources on youth smoking

American Lung Association of the Midland states - The Kentucky Chapter of the National ALA

Kentucky Cancer Program- "Do Right — Don't Smoke" educational presentations

Kentucky Cancer Consortium- addresses cancer prevention, identification and access issues, policy, professional education, and evaluation

Useful Links


Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky: Initiatives

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has made over 25 grants to organizations working specifically on youth smoking prevention activities including Community Grants for smoking prevention programs in schools; community campaigns on the dangers of second-hand smoke and the need for an increased cigarette tax.  The Foundation has provided funding support for the work of Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy to assist local communities in raising awareness and developing support for local smoke-free policies.  Please visit our Grantees section for a complete listing of grantees.  For more information about Community Grants, please write Mary Jo Dike, MBA, Program Manager at mdike@healthy-ky.org

References

1Kentucky Youth Tobacco Survey 2006

2Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, United States 2005

3"Raising Cigarette Taxes Reduces Smoking, Especially Among Kids.”