Baldwin Wallace University students have been busy this past year, teaming up with faculty and community partners to tackle the issue of underage tobacco access in Ohio. This initiative is more than just a school project; it highlights a serious public health concern.
Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, these students conducted over 6,000 compliance checks across the state. They also supported local efforts like Cleveland’s Tobacco Retail License program. This city initiative received an extra $50,000 from the Cleveland Department of Public Health to help manage its licensing system.
The project ties into a broader initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Baldwin Wallace’s part of the project provided six paid internships for students and included a group of “secret shopper” buyers. These young buyers gathered data and assisted local health departments.
During the enforcement phase, “secret shoppers” visited 6,033 stores in all 88 Ohio counties. The results were alarming. There was a 22% violation rate, meaning about one in five retailers sold tobacco to underage buyers. In some counties, this rate exceeded 40%. Wendy Hyde, the project director and health professor, emphasized the concerning trend.
Payton Aston, a student involved in the project, reported, “In every independent vape shop I went to, I was sold to without being asked for my ID.” This highlights how the tobacco industry is reaching out to teens and young adults more aggressively than ever.
Hyde pointed out the urgent need for change: “This industry has completely targeted our teens and young adults. I got involved in tobacco control to help my own kids.”
An innovative part of the project is the T21 Compliance Checker app, developed with researchers from Ohio State University. This app streamlines reporting, allowing users to upload store data and ID verification in real-time. Health departments are excited to use this tool for future compliance checks.
As the project moves forward, researchers at Baldwin Wallace and OSU are delving deeper into the data to prepare their findings.
“I love the political policy piece of my work,” Hyde said. “Seeing students realize they can make a difference is inspiring.”
This initiative reflects a growing trend in public health, where community involvement and technology unite to combat underage tobacco use. Recent studies have shown that direct community efforts can significantly cut down underage smoking rates. The work at Baldwin Wallace is a step towards a healthier future for Ohio’s youth.
Source link
grants,tobacco
