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| STOPN
A Collaborative Program for
Spit Tobacco Education & Prevention
In recognition of the fact that spit tobacco use is a serious threat to Texans' health, the Texas Cancer Council in 1996 funded and the Dental Oncology Education Program convened the Spit Tobacco Prevention Network (STOPN). The first charge of STOPN was to draft a strategic plan for the coordination and collaboration of spit tobacco education and prevention efforts in Texas. The Texas Spit Tobacco Education and Prevention Plan: A Guide for Action was the result.
A diverse group of agencies and individuals, the network is comprised of partners with varied perspectives, experiences, and resources. While fully utilizing resources and not duplicating the efforts of others, STOPN partners work together to incorporate spit tobacco initiatives into the activities of their individual organizations. Focus is placed on public and community education, health care professional education, public policy issues, and research and information.
The STOPN plan is designed to reduce spit tobacco use in Texas by providing education at many levels via an integrated and coordinated approach. Unique in its design, the Spit Tobacco Prevention Network believes that through integration and collaboration, spit tobacco's negative economic impact and adverse effects on Texans' health can be reduced.
The following data is published by the Texas Department of Health
from its 2001 Texas Youth Risk Behavior Survey:
Smokeless Tobacco Use
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On one or more of the 30 days preceding the survey, 8.8 percent of students had used smokeless tobacco.
- Male students (15.5%) were significantly more likely than female students (1.7%) to have used smokeless tobacco.
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White students (14.2%) were significantly more likely than Hispanic students (4.2%) and African American students (2.6%) to have used smokeless tobacco.
Smokeless Tobacco Use on School Property
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During the 30 days preceding the survey, 5.4 percent of students had used smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco or snuff) on school property one or more times.
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Male students (9.7%) were significantly more likely than female students (0.7%) to have used smokeless tobacco on school property.
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White students (8.4%) were significantly more likely than Hispanic students (2.7%) and African American students (1.8%) to have used smokeless tobacco on school property.
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OVERVIEW