Dr. Christi Patton

So a lot of my research for many years has been in Alaska, the state of Alaska, working with Alaska Native and American Indian communities there. And I was invited by the tribal leadership to focus on this issue as a key priority for the communities. So with staff, other colleagues at the Nicotine Dependence Center at Mayo Clinic, we were invited just to explore this issue.

So a lot of my research for many years has been in Alaska, the state of Alaska, working with Alaska Native and American Indian communities there. And I was invited by the tribal leadership to focus on this issue as a key priority for the communities. So with staff, other colleagues at the Nicotine Dependence Center at Mayo Clinic, we were invited just to explore this issue.

And people did want to partner on this. It was really important to do research. So the community identified pregnant women and youth as the top kind of subgroups to focus on. So as far as you asked about youth, and we did evaluate a culturally adapted behavioral counseling intervention, because like I said, behavioral counseling for youth is effective.

And people did want to partner on this. It was really important to do research. So the community identified pregnant women and youth as the top kind of subgroups to focus on. So as far as you asked about youth, and we did evaluate a culturally adapted behavioral counseling intervention, because like I said, behavioral counseling for youth is effective.

But we asked youth their preferences, you know, how do we culturally adapt this? What would you prefer in a program? And the youth said they wanted to be part of an intervention where they kind of were away from their village. There was 56 villages in the region I was working in and very rural Alaska.

But we asked youth their preferences, you know, how do we culturally adapt this? What would you prefer in a program? And the youth said they wanted to be part of an intervention where they kind of were away from their village. There was 56 villages in the region I was working in and very rural Alaska.

And basically it was a smoke-free event where we had kids stay for a weekend and there was behavioral counseling, but there was also talks by elders and other community members on the impact of tobacco. on their lives, but also kind of talking about what the future impacts could be.

And basically it was a smoke-free event where we had kids stay for a weekend and there was behavioral counseling, but there was also talks by elders and other community members on the impact of tobacco. on their lives, but also kind of talking about what the future impacts could be.

So it was very challenging though, for that program, it wasn't very effective in terms of long-term smoke smoking cessation, just because the kids then had to go back to their village where, as I mentioned, the social norms around tobacco use were such that, you know, there were many people including their parents using tobacco. So it was just really hard for them to quit. But overall,

So it was very challenging though, for that program, it wasn't very effective in terms of long-term smoke smoking cessation, just because the kids then had to go back to their village where, as I mentioned, the social norms around tobacco use were such that, you know, there were many people including their parents using tobacco. So it was just really hard for them to quit. But overall,

Any type of behavioral counseling program that's culturally aligned has been helpful for youth to quit. But as I said, even though youth are interested in medications, there's really not that evidence yet in youth to be able to offer that to them. So youth cessation is very challenging. There's still a lot of calls for research on that area.

Any type of behavioral counseling program that's culturally aligned has been helpful for youth to quit. But as I said, even though youth are interested in medications, there's really not that evidence yet in youth to be able to offer that to them. So youth cessation is very challenging. There's still a lot of calls for research on that area.

So let me ask you a question. Yes, Sam. Dr. Patton, in spite of all the research talking about how dangerous tobacco use is, is it expected to grow the use?

So let me ask you a question. Yes, Sam. Dr. Patton, in spite of all the research talking about how dangerous tobacco use is, is it expected to grow the use?

I think at least remaining stable in terms of youth tobacco prevalence rates. I think with newer products being marketed, there's a high likelihood that use would increase. I think the tobacco industry is very adept at kind of finding new angles or new products like these nicotine pouches that have become more popular. The second most commonly used product among youth.

I think at least remaining stable in terms of youth tobacco prevalence rates. I think with newer products being marketed, there's a high likelihood that use would increase. I think the tobacco industry is very adept at kind of finding new angles or new products like these nicotine pouches that have become more popular. The second most commonly used product among youth.

You know, there are always these products like e-cigarettes are initially kind of word of mouth, tobacco marketing, maybe cigarettes.

You know, there are always these products like e-cigarettes are initially kind of word of mouth, tobacco marketing, maybe cigarettes.

appealing to people because they're potentially safer to use because it's not a burn product or more of a combustible product like cigarettes but um nicotine pouches do contain nicotine e-cigarettes contain nicotine and you know these this can lead to nicotine addiction i don't know if you've ever known any i i i'm close to a family member um whose child used e-cigarettes and

appealing to people because they're potentially safer to use because it's not a burn product or more of a combustible product like cigarettes but um nicotine pouches do contain nicotine e-cigarettes contain nicotine and you know these this can lead to nicotine addiction i don't know if you've ever known any i i i'm close to a family member um whose child used e-cigarettes and