Survey: Adults,

students differ

on tobacco use

Youth smoking, but parents are unaware

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The results from a community and New Ulm High School survey given last spring show students and parents greatly differ on their perceptions of tobacco use.

Only NUHS freshmen and sophomores took the survey. One hundred-seventy six were females and 197 males; out of which 199 were freshmen and 169 were sophomores. Two students didn't indicate their gender and seven students didn't indicate their grade in school. Fifty-five percent of New Ulm parents and 39 percent of New Ulm community leaders also responded to the surveys.

The survey was administered in August 2001 by COAT -- Communities Organizing Against Tobacco, which is part of Allina Health System. The survey results included general findings from four Minnesota communities in which it was conducted.

Tobacco use

Findings showed that parents and students differ on the use of tobacco, where tobacco products are found, knowledge of youth access to tobacco and the use of tobacco in public places.

Thirty-one percent of students use tobacco products, as do 19 percent of parents and 5 percent of community leaders. Tobacco was defined as cigarettes, cigars, pipes or chewing tobacco/snuff.

Thirty-one percent of students report using cigarettes, while 6 percent of the students report using cigars, chewing tobacco or snuff.

Among students who use tobacco, 61 percent report their parents use. Among students who don't use tobacco, only 38 percent of their parents use.

Thirty-three percent of teens report using tobacco while 4 percent of parents report awareness of tobacco use behavior by teens in their household.

This statistic was the most interesting aspect of the survey for NUHS Principal Dick LaPatka.

"From this statistic, you can see the wide gap between what parents perceive and what kids perceive," LaPatka said. "This is probably the most enlightening aspect of the survey."

The fact that so many more teen-agers are smoking than parents realize, should serve as a "wake-up" call for the parents.

"Youth and students are smoking and many parents don't realize it," LaPatka said. "That's kind of a red flag -- the percentage is so much higher than parents perceive it to be."

Adults reported there is a high level of concern for youth tobacco use, while students feel adults aren't concerned.

Eighty-eight percent of parents believe it's the community's responsibility to discourage youth tobacco use.

Fifty-three percent of students felt they would be confronted by an adult they know if seen using tobacco and 14 percent said they would be confronted by an adult they don't know if seen using tobacco.

Adults reported that of those from tobacco using households, 30 percent are concerned about teen access to tobacco, while students reported friends and family are the most common source of tobacco.

Community and Students

Parents and community leaders agree that public places and homes with teenagers under 18-years old, should be smoke-free

Parents who use tobacco, don't support a smoke-free public place policy and don't support a tobacco-free home policy.

Community leaders who use tobacco support both the smoke-free and tobacco-free home policy.

Teen Access

Teen access was measured by assessing the source of students tobacco products, the ease in obtaining tobacco products and household tobacco status.

Students reported that 95 percent get their tobacco from friends and family, 22 percent from vending machines, 35 percent from retailers and 40 percent from stealing. Seventy-eight percent of students who use tobacco rated friends and family as the easiest source from which to obtain tobacco.

"My perception is that those of age, are selling cigarettes to those underage," LaPatka said. "Kids are getting the cigarettes from home, older friends and maybe purchasing them someplace."

Smoking areas

It was reported that adults and teens most often see tobacco use at outdoor gathering places, recreation centers, near school property, fast-food restaurants and non-fast food restaurants.

LaPatka said the high school has about five cases a year where students are caught smoking on district property. The penalty is an automatic suspension and parents are notified.

"It is against state law for any student or adult to smoke at any time on district property, along with any property the district rents," LaPatka said.

In general, the study found that students, parents, and community leaders feel it's acceptable for adults to use tobacco products when teens are present.

"It would be nice to find out the reason why people start to smoke," LaPatka said. "As a non-smoker, I couldn't begin to answer that question -- there are many theories and many reasons."

LaPatka talked about the early "Hollywood" image of actors smoking in movies and making it appear glamourous. He also felt tobacco companies and advertisers play a major role in tobacco use.

LaPatka said he plans to review the results with high school health teachers and have them go over the results with their students, to get their opinion of the survey.