Background
The accessibility of tobacco for youth is difficult to measure, partly because of
the varied sources of cigarettes. Perceptions about the accessibility of cigarettes
assesses availability from all potential sources and has been found to predict future
smoking. This study examines the determinants of perceived accessibility from the
perspective of a longitudinal study.
Methods
Data were derived from the second Development and Assessment of Nicotine Dependence
in Youth study, a 4-year longitudinal study of 1246 sixth-grade students who underwent
up to 11 in-person interviews from 2002 to 2006. Perceived accessibility was assessed
prospectively by asking students whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement
It would be easy for me to get a cigarette.
Results
At baseline, the average age was 12 years; 85% had never before smoked; more than
21% perceived that cigarettes were easy to obtain. Perceived accessibility increased
over the 4 years among the cohort. Youth with friends who smoked or whose parents
allowed the watching of R-rated movies were more likely to perceive easy accessibility
of cigarettes. Among nonsmokers, there was a dose–response relationship between perceived
accessibility and exposure to smoking in the family environment. Nonsmokers who knew
commercial sources of cigarettes also had higher perceived accessibility.
Conclusions
Several potentially preventable exposures to tobacco in the family and social environment
contribute to confidence among some youth that cigarettes are easy to obtain. Further
studies are needed to determine if modifying these factors (e.g., through programs
to reduce the exposure of youth to tobacco products in the home) might reduce perceived
accessibility.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 22, 2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
