REVIEW

How state counter-industry campaigns help prime perceptions of tobacco industry practices to promote reductions in youth smoking

J C Hersey¹, J Niederdeppe¹, S W Ng¹, P Mowery^1,*, M Farrelly¹ and P Messeri^2,

¹ RTI International, Washington, DC, USA
² American Legacy Foundation, Washington DC

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
James Hersey
PhD, RTI International, 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 740, Washington, DC 20036, USA; hersey{at}rti.org

Objective: This study assessed the impact of state media campaigns that prominently feature counter-industry messages on youth cigarette smoking, beyond the effects of price, secular trends, tobacco control efforts, and the national truth^® campaign.

Methods: Rates of youth smoking were compared in three groups of states: (1) those with long funded counter-industry campaigns (California, Florida, and Massachusetts); (2) states with more recently funded counter-industry media campaigns (Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, and New Jersey); and (3) other states. An analysis was performed for a series of national telephone surveys of 12–17 year olds between 1999 and 2002, controlling for differences in demographic background, the price of cigarettes, and exposure to the national truth^® campaign.

Results: Between 1999 and 2002, rates of current smoking and established smoking decreased significantly faster in states with established or more newly funded counter-industry campaigns than in other states. State counter-industry campaigns appear to prime, or make more salient, negative perceptions about tobacco industry practices.

Conclusion: Results highlight the value of continued state counter-industry campaigns.

Abbreviations: CA, California; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FL, Florida; GRP, gross ratings point; IN, Indiana; LMTS, Legacy Media Tracking Survey; MA, Massachusetts; MN, Minnesota; MS, Mississippi; NJ, New Jersey; REBEL, Reaching Everyone by Exposing Lies; SWAT, Students Working Against Tobacco; TUPE, tobacco use prevention education

Keywords: counter-advertising campaigns; youth smoking prevention; state media campaigns; comprehensive tobacco control; priming effects

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