Released by the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services by Rob O'Hannon 12-17-2010

Background: The State of New Hampshire Single State Authority - the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services (BDAS) - receives federal block grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) to provide prevention, intervention and treatment services. A requirement of this block grant is that states work to reduce youth access and use of tobacco (the Synar Amendment) through merchant compliance checks conducted each year.

Compliance checks and data are organized by stratum. There are eleven (11) strata in New Hampshire for the purpose of compliance checks: one for each of the ten (10) counties, and one (1) for vending machine (as only nine (9) vending machines compliance checks across the entire state were required for the federal report they are not included here). The number of stores to be checked for each stratum (hereafter referred to as county) is determined using the "Synar Survey Estimation System"(SSES) software provided by SAMHSA. The results of the compliance checks are reported as "Retailer Violation Rate" (RVR), which is the percentage of tobacco retailers checked that sold or indicated they would have sold tobacco to underage buyers. Block grant requirements are that RVR can be no higher than 20%.

Past compliance checks were organized by the BDAS and carried out by funded providers and volunteers. Compliance checks were generally conducted between June and September, with the required results report submitted to SAMHSA by the end of the year. An important statutory change assigned tobacco retail licensing and enforcement duties to the Division of Liquor Enforcement (BLE). This lead to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BLE and BDAS to have compliance checks coordinated and conducted by BLE field officers. Compliance checks this past year were conducted from January to September. Using SSES output to frame the effort, BLE conducted the required number of random checks for each county. The checks were completed and the required federal report was submitted on time.

Statewide results: In recent years, RVR rates for New Hampshire have varied between 11 and 13%. Last year's revealed a RVR of 15%, higher than in past years. We feel a major reason for the increase last year was largely due to the extended period over which the checks were conducted. This did not allow merchants to give each other a "heads up" to each other that inspectors were in the field, as had happened in the past. 

However, this year's RVR rate is 8.6%, the lowest it has ever been. Increase vigilance by merchants may account for some of the improvement, as well as outreach efforts by, and the FDA education efforts about new tobacco regulations at the federal level.

A look at the data indicates that merchant compliance with youth tobacco laws is good to excellent in all counties, with three counties achieving a 0% RVR, three counties achieving RVR rates of under 10%, and the remaining four counties achieving rates well below 20%. The RVR rates in two counties were higher than last year, with one county's RVR increasing by 10%. The number of outlets per county must be taken into account for the smallest counties, which could have led to being more vulnerable to the "heads up" factor, even with the extended time period for compliance checks. In the two largest counties in the state, which were covered in two compliance checks sweeps, there was a significant reduction between the first and second checks.

Table 1 - Breakdown by County

Although the overall RVR for this year is lower than in the past, we must guard against a pendulum effect, with slightly increased RVRs as merchants become familiar with the new compliance checks protocols. In anticipation of this, we have concluded a revised MOU with BLE, with the goals of providing year round compliance checks of every outlet.

Tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds quietly announced their intent to pull the Camel Dissolvables line of smokeless tobacco products from current tests markets: Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN and Portland, OR. 

Customers received word about the product removal through a letter sent from R.J. Reynolds. At the same time, customers were reminded of the many other smokeless tobacco products available and were invited to use the included coupon to try them at a discounted price.

Camel's Sticks, Strips and Orbs drew controversy due to their easy-to-conceal packaging, which looks similar to gum or candy, and their kid-friendly 'Mellow' and 'Fresh' flavors. According to a Camel consumer relations representative, while the products are being pulled for "further refinement," information for potential re-design and other possible test markets have not been identified.

While the products removal is hailed as a positive step by prevention advocates, smokeless tobacco products are gaining popularity among youth.

Newly released survey results from the Monitoring the Future Survey show a significant increase in the use of smokeless tobacco among eighth, tenth and twelfth graders.

From the mid-1990's to the early 2000s, there was a steady decline in smokeless tobacco use (which includes snuff, plug, dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco and Snus) and monthly use fell by one-third to one-half. But that decline has ended and a clear rebound in use is evident.

According to the Monitoring the Future survey, 30-day prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in 2010 is 4.1% (among eighth graders), 7.5% (among tenth graders) and 8.5% (among twelfth graders).  The rates specific to male students however, are considerably higher at 6.3% (among eighth grade males), 13.0% (among tenth grade males) and 15.7% (among twelfth grade males).

• The Coos County Coalition is planning to hold a Strategic Planning Session.
• The target date for the session is mid-March.
• We would like all interested parties to attend and help in this planning process to revamp the Coalition's mission, focus, and objectives.
   

More information will be available as plans are made.

Thank you!