Bring prevention programs that work to the community and businesses. Work closely with the King County Board of Health . Smokers have higher levels of death rates for over 20 major illnesses and injuries. As in many parts of the nation, youth smoking is on the rise in Seattle and King County. In a recent statewide survey, in every grade sampled, students were more likely to have tried cigarettes in 1995 compared to 1992.
National data show that children are beginning to use tobacco at increasingly younger ages.
In King County, the average age of onset of tobacco use is 12.8 years of age. This program checks and educates more retailers than any other municipality in the U.S. Teams of young volunteers go out with Public Health staff and attempt to purchase cigarettes from randomly selected retailers in a community. If a retailer refuses to make a sale, a congratulatory certificate and an educational packet are presented to the merchant. If a sale is made, the Public Health employee gives the manager an educational packet with a notification that the business can expect a visit from the State Liquor Control Board for further follow-up on the violation of the law. While it is now harder for teens to buy their own cigarettes, a new problem has evolved in which adults are buying cigarettes for youth.