title: Are tobacco control policies effective in reducing young adult smoking?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the influence of tobacco control program funding, smoke-free air laws, and cigarette prices on young adult smoking outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use a natural experimental design approach that uses the variation in tobacco control policies across states and over time to understand their influence on tobacco outcomes. We combine individual outcome data with annual state-level policy data to conduct multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for an extensive set of sociodemographic factors. The participants are 18- to 25-year-olds from the 2002-2009 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. The three main outcomes are past-year smoking initiation, and current and established smoking. A current smoker was one who had smoked on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. An established smoker was one who had smoked 1 or more cigarettes in the past 30 days and smoked at least 100 cigarettes in his or her lifetime.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of tobacco control program funding and greater smoke-free-air law coverage were both associated with declines in current and established smoking (p < .01). Greater coverage of smoke-free air laws was associated with lower past year initiation with marginal significance (p = .058). Higher cigarette prices were not associated with smoking outcomes. Had smoke-free-air law coverage and cumulative tobacco control funding remained at 2002 levels, current and established smoking would have been 5%-7% higher in 2009.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoke-free air laws and state tobacco control programs are effective strategies for curbing young adult smoking.
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Electronic address: mcf@rti.org.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Farrelly
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Brett R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Loomis
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuiper
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gfroerer
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Ralph S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Caraballo
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Terry F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Pechacek
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: G Lance
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Couzens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011640:Public Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: Cigarette prices; Smoke-free air laws; Smoking; Tobacco control programs; Young adults