Local business, civic and community leaders recognize youth tobacco use as a serious problem and want to implement prevention programs, but resources have not been available. Isolated interventions are difficult to implement. Local communities want a variety of programs that address the needs of current tobacco users and youth along with establishing policies that make it easy not to smoke. It takes time to prepare community leaders in strategies of tobacco prevention and control and then to establish and coordinate programs before significant behavioral changes can be seen. At baseline community tobacco control and prevention programs were limited or non-existent.
People are ready and responding well to tobacco control and prevention programs.
Infrastructure development is needed. There are too few youth cessation programs. Public participation in media and program development is key. TDH is building a strong infrastructure for delivering community-level programs. Next Steps Analysis of the pilot study data is ongoing.