20080530 Tobacco use among Carroll youths on the rise by Erica Kritt

Tobacco use among Carroll youths on the rise

By Erica Kritt, Carroll County Times Staff Writer

Friday, May 30, 2008

The use of smokeless tobacco in Carroll County for people younger than 18 has increased significantly since 2000, according to state statistics.

According to statistics from the Maryland Adult Tobacco Surveys and Maryland Youth Tobacco Surveys conducted by the state’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Carroll saw an 18.7 percent increase in tobacco use among underage youths between 2000 and 2006.

Barbara White, coordinator for the Carroll County Health Department’s Cigarette Restitution Fund Program, said the program is working to address the problem.

[…]

White and her co-workers presented the latest statistics at a meeting Thursday in Westminster.

[…]

Hegg had Caroline Babylon make a presentation about how she used a grant from CRFP at the event Thursday morning in Westminster.

Babylon, who is treasurer at the Carroll County Agriculture Center, was given a grant to provide anti-chewing information at the Ag Center this year.

Babylon set up a table with candy for children and tobacco-free products that resemble smokeless tobacco for those who chewed tobacco. The information was available at bull riding events and a tractor pull.

The nontobacco products were meant to be used as a way to satisfy the habit of chewing without the dangers of tobacco for people attempting to quit, Babylon said.

“On an average night, 100 to 140 people saw the display,” she said. “I think we at least planted the seed and gave people a tool [to quit].”

White said she hopes to have more programs like Babylon’s that focused on smokeless tobacco in the coming years.

Reach staff writer Erica Kritt at 410-857-7876 or erica.kritt@carrollcountytimes.com.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/05/30/news/local_news/newsstory3.txt

20080530 Tobacco use among Carroll youths on the rise by Erica Kritt