An assessment of the effectiveness of tobacco control measures on behavior changes related to tobacco use among adolescents and young adults in a district in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Sri Lanka became a signatory to the WHO Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control in September 2003, and this was ratified in November 2003. With a view to reduce the use of tobacco in Sri Lanka, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act (NATA) No. 27 of 2006 was implemented. Aim: To assess the behavior changes related to tobacco use among adolescents and young adults following exposure to tobacco control measures were implemented by NATA. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 42 adolescent (aged 13-19 years) and 156 young adult (aged 20-39 years) men living in Anuradhapura Divisional Secretary area in Sri Lanka. Cases (current quitters) and controls (current smokers) were compared to ascertain the outcome following the exposure to tobacco control measures. A self-administered questionnaire and focus group discussions were used to ascertain the exposure status in cases and controls. Confounding was controlled by stratification and randomization. Univariate analysis was performed by Backward Stepwise (Likelihood Ratio) method. Results: Among 198 respondents, 66 (27.3% adolescents and 72.7% young adults) were quitters, while 132 smokers (18.2% adolescents and 81.8% young adults) were current smokers. Exposure to the anti-smoking media messages revealed that TV was the strongest media that motivated smokers to quit smoking. Majority (66%) of cases and control were not exposed to tobacco promotion advertisements, while 47% of the cases and 50% of the control had never seen tobacco advertisements during community events. All cases (66) as well as 89% (118) of the control had not noticed competitions or prizes sponsored by tobacco industry during last year ( P = 0.13). Conclusion: Tobacco control measures implemented by NATA had a favorable influence on behavior change related to smoking among quitters and current smokers.

Personal and environmental factors related to amphetamine addiction and quitting in northeastern Thailand.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate both personal and environmental factors related to amphetamine addiction and quitting of drug-using people in Leu-Amnat sub-district, Amnatchareon Province, Thailand. Methods: Questionnaires were completed by one hundred and nineteen persons, in addition to them attending basic knowledge activities and a matrix program. Pre-tests, immediate post-tests, and 6 month post-tests were performed before and after the activities and program. Questionnaire responses and comparisons of scores of the tests were statistically analyzed. Results: Overall, the results showed that coming from a small family was a statistically significant personal factor related to drug addiction and quitting. Numbers of houses, and family and income problems were environmental factors significantly related to drug addiction and quitting. Basic knowledge regarding drug addiction increased statistically at different periods of time. The study found that the best solutions for drug addiction were the establishment of communities and the provision of knowledge regarding the dangers of drug addiction for children. Strategies involving drug addiction prevention programs, medical treatment, mental therapy, and education focusing on family and school levels were considered necessary. Conclusion: Some personal and environmental factors may be related to a person’s increased likelihood of exposure to drugs. These results may imply that the Thai government should reconsider those factors involved in drug addiction and quitting.