Perceived messages from schools regarding adolescent tobacco use

This study conducted focus group interviews with Bllr and 12th grade adoles cent tobacco users to examined perceived messages from their school systems regarding tobacco wt. This was part of a larger study sponsored by the CDC on adolescents' reasons for tobacco we. Two clear patterns of perceptions emerged 1) Students perceive school syste ms to be hypocritical and to be sending contradictory messages regarding th e we of tobacco. 2) The reward punishment structure of public school system s may not be effective in deterring tobacco use among adolescents.