Abstract
Tobacco advertising exposure increases tobacco use among youth. Data were from a largely racial and ethnic minority sample (60% non-Hispanic (NH) Black/African American) of youth (13–18 years) who were nonsmokers susceptible to future tobacco use (n = 686) or current cigarette smokers (n = 674). Regression models tested associations between tobacco advertisement exposure and smoking status, and determined demographic correlates. Nearly all youth recalled seeing a tobacco advertisement (98%), which was associated with smoking (OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.08–1.15). Racial minority youth had higher exposure to tobacco advertising. Policies restricting advertisements for all tobacco products are essential for prevention efforts and may help decrease tobacco-related health disparities.
Acknowledgments
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, National Institutes of Health or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The authors would like to thank the participants and their parents, our community recruitment partner Research Unlimited, and our External Advisory Board (Dr. Pamela Ling, Dr. Kurt Ribisl, Dr. Georgia Polacek) for their contributions to this work.
Disclosure statement
No conflicts of interest to report.