In early 2004 the HSC undertook some preliminary work on a literature review of youthfocused anti-tobacco interventions. This preliminary work identified a need for a more co-ordinated and consistent approach to future youth tobacco control in Aotearoa New Zealand. In particular, the preliminary work identified the need to develop a national youth tobacco control plan.
The HSC, with support from the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Smokefree Coalition and ATAK was contracted by the Ministry of Health to undertake a literature review that would be used to inform the development of a national plan to reduce smoking initiation in New Zealand.
Key Results
This literature review has considered youth smoking prevalence rates in a number of countries, as well as risks, protective factors, and key interventions. The key findings from the risk and protective factors section have been applied to the key findings in the strategy section. This latter section discusses potential strategies that are likely to be effective given risk and prevalence factors in the New Zealand context. Where possible, it focuses on population groups.