Members of the B.O.L.D. Coalition's Teens Against Drug Abuse (TADA) planned and conducted a survey of public perceptions of the availability of tobacco products that are often obtained by young people who want to avoid the health risks and higher cost of cigarettes. Even though it is illegal for people under the age of 18 to purchase tobacco products, many youth manage to obtain them. Given the high cost of cigarettes, mainly due to state and federal taxes, many young people have turned to purchasing small cigars and cigarillos. Youth also obtain blunt cigars to use in smoking marijuana. These purchases help to maintain addiction to nicotine and accompanying short and long-term health risks including cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and lung. TADA hopes to use the results of the November 2010 survey to advocate for greater restrictions on the sales of such products. Click here for a tobacco project organized by TADA several years ago. Click here for photos of the TADA Sticker Shock project. For more information about TADA, contact SSTAR TADA advisor Lance Tehan at 508-235-2312. 
 

(Top row) TADA advisor Lance Tehan meets with members of Teens Against Drug Abuse (TADA) members at the BOLD headquarters on Stanley Street to work out details of the survey procedure.  (Middle row)  Kellen Gonsalves, Amber Valentin and Markus Watson set up a table at Government Center to survey members of the public regarding tobacco sales. (Bottom row) Lisa Golden and Steve Parr participate in the survey of perceptions of the cost and ease of availability of the tobacco products shown in the sample display.