Pregnant teenagers’ smoking declines in Nevada

Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2001 | 9:34 a.m.

The number of mothers in Nevada who smoked during pregancy dropped by more than 40 percent in the 1990s, according to a study released released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study also shows that the number of pregnant teenagers who smoked in Nevada dropped from 19.3 percent in 1990 to 14.5 percent in 1996 and has remained steady since then.

Studies have linked smoking during pregancy to low birth weights, retardation and behavioral problems. The costs associated nationally with smoking-related birth defects range from $1.4 billion to $2 billion each year, according to the study.

Pregnant teenagers are one of the most difficult demographic groups to reach, said Kathleen Boutin, project and program coordinator for the Clark County Health District.

The county's Baby Find project, an outreach program devoted to reducing low birth weights in at-risk populations, focuses on the dangers of consuming alcohol and smoking during pregancy, as well as the basics of prenatal nutrition, Boutin said.

"We have women with similar life experiences go into the homes of the pregnant adolescents," Boutin said. "It can be very powerful to have a mother who smoked during pregnancy talk about the difficulties she's had raising a special-needs child."

Health officials credit aggressive public education campaigns and intervention programs with the nation's overall dip in pregnant smokers. But tobacco companies have also increased their efforts to ensure new generations of customers, said Maria Azzarelli, coordinator for the county's youth anti-tobacco program.

Clark County sponsored the "Kick Ash Bash," Nevada's first anti-tobacco youth summit, at UNLV in June. Most teenagers already know about the health risks of smoking, which is why the campaign focuses on the deadly tactics of tobacco companies, Azzarelli said.

"We try to show kids how they're being manipulated by the tobacco industry," Azzarelli said.

Rather than targeting school assemblies and other traditional forums, the teenage group leaders spread their message through weekly visits to movie theaters, concerts and amusement parks, Azzarelli said.

Other highlights of the CDC report include: