With resources from Minnesota’s settlement with the tobacco industry, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) designed and managed the Minnesota Youth Tobacco Prevention Initiative. The Initiative was a comprehensive effort that included competitive grant programs supporting (1) community-based grants to 31 local groups and 31 population-at-risk (PaR) groups; (2) statewide initiatives and development grants specifically designed to meet the technical assistance needs of community-based grantees in the areas of evaluation, communication, media advocacy, youth development, legal resources, school-based prevention, secondhand smoke policy development, and partnership development; and (3) a marketing campaign/youth advocacy organization (Target Market) designed to counter tobacco industry marketing efforts through public information and education. All recipients of community-based grants were provided strategic planning and general technical assistance through regional MDH grant managers. PaR grantees received additional, specialized support through a statewide technical assistance grant designed to meet the strategic needs of PaRs. The Initiative aimed to reach all youth aged 12–17 years, with an emphasis on those in middle school (aged 12–14 years).

The goal of the Initiative was to reduce youth tobacco use by 30% by 2005.

Aggressive and comprehensive tobacco control programs in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Minnesota have produced substantial declines in cigarette use. Minnesota’s multicomponent, statewide program has been in effect since 2000. In just 2 years, teen tobacco use in Minnesota has decreased by 11%.