Guam’s Youth Support the Youth Protection Act of 2015 (Bill 141-33)

Guam ranks first in current smoking among adults throughout all of the US states and territories, according to CDC’s State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System. With a smoking rate of 30% among Guam’s adults, it is not surprising that young teens are mirroring this deadly habit. In the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted among Guam’s public school students, 2 in 10 high school students and 1 in 10 middle school students are current smokers.

Youth for Youth LIVE! Guam (YFYLG) is taking action to create a smoke-free generation. The organization aims to reduce and prevent youth tobacco and e-cigarette use by limiting youth access to such products. Youth members developed and distributed an educational toolkit for policymakers and community organizations to provide a comprehensive understanding of tobacco and e-cigarette use and its implications. Youth members continue to mobilize and strengthen their efforts in support of Bill 141-33: Youth Protection Act of 2015 introduced by Vice-Speaker BJ Cruz.

As highlighted in this toolkit, YFYLG shares that voting in favor of the Youth Protection Act of 2015 (Bill 141-33) will directly impact the youth and their health:

• Eliminate risk factor for substance abuse
  • Research shows that early introduction of tobacco products among youth increases the likelihood for nicotine dependence during adulthood due to the unique vulnerability of adolescent brains to the effects of nicotine. (Taylor, Shelley E., 2011)
  • More than 90% of current adult smokers first used cigarettes before 19, and almost 100% reported first use before 26 years of age. (IOM, 2015) This is also true in Guam, where 2 of 3 current adult smokers started before age 18. (CDC, 2013)
  • A landmark NIDA study in 2011 showed nicotine as a gateway drug, priming the brain to enhance the behavioral effects of cocaine, and possibly other illicit drugs.
• Decrease underage access to tobacco products
  • Research shows that youth rely on the 18-20 year olds in their social circles to get them cigarettes. Increasing the minimum legal age of tobacco purchase to 21 will limit youth’s access to cigarettes. (DiFranza and Coleman, 2001)
• The community recognizes that this bill protects them and their families
  • According to the Guam PDN poll on December 2, 2015, 3 out of 4 community members were in favor of raising the minimum legal age of tobacco purchase to 21.
• Potential public health impact
  • A March 2015 Institute of Medicine report showed that the age group most impacted by this policy will be those age 15 to 17 years. Delaying initiation rates will likely decrease the prevalence of tobacco users in the US by 12%. This decrease translates to fewer premature deaths and deaths from lung cancer, the major cause of cancer mortality on Guam.

“Collecting and developing this toolkit helped me understand how important Bill 141-33 is to my generation,” shared Phillip Salas, YFYLG President. “By sharing this toolkit with our leaders, I hope they too will gain a better understanding of who they should prioritize when they make their vote.”

Salas, along with fellow officers, provided their testimonies at the May 23rd public hearing for Bill 141-33. Following her testimony, Vice President Sara Sahagon expressed her personal concern as to why she supports the bill: “In my experience as a youth facilitator with YFYLG, I have heard countless stories of how tobacco has negatively affected many youth in our island. I support Bill 141-33 because I stand by a healthy future for us - the youth.”
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Throughout the week, YFYLG will be reaching out to the island’s senators through door-to-door visits. They are also sharing highlights of the educational toolkit by posting it on their social media pages. For more information, like or follow Youth for Youth LIVE! Guam on Facebook (facebook.com/yfyliveguam), Twitter (@yfyliveguam) and Instagram (@yfyliveguam).