Vster Says:

Wed, 11/16/2005 - 10:29pm

First understand that harm reduction is typically aimed towards criminal and illicit behaviors that a person often has little or no control over. The lack of control can be a physical or emotional addiction. Being that tobacco is only illegal for those under the age of 18, it seems warranted that harm reduction activities are thus then aimed at those for whom it is an illegal activity.

Another premise of harm reduction is interceding at the lowest level possible. An effective reduction strategy ensures that individuals, families, schools, and communities work together to effect change to work towards the desired norms.

More on the flip...

Note that Washington's tobacco settlement in 1999 (I think thats the correct year) has been used alot in harm reduction. Think of the media campaigns about youth and smoking, and how smoking affects our health.

Thus I suggest that harm reduction tobacco use could include:

* Increased penalities to persons and businesses supplying minors with tobacco products.

* Education campaign towards educators, business, and community about the specific effects that tobacco has on youth.

* Parental education about the effects of their personal choices upon their unborn child (brain development,physical development), and their childrens health (e.g. 2nd hand smoke, allergies, asthma), and how their choices influence their child's choices later in life.

* Community education on when and how local youth use tobacco products.