Cultural perspectives concerning adolescent use of tobacco and alcohol in the Appalachian mountain region.

Context: Appalachia has high rates of tobacco use and related health problems, and despite significant impediments to alcohol use, alcohol abuse is common. Adolescents are exposed to sophisticated tobacco and alcohol advertising. Prevention messages, therefore, should reflect research concerning culturally influenced attitudes toward tobacco and alcohol use.

Providing health education to Appalachia populations.

Since the 1980s, theorists have posited that health education that reflects the cultural realities of communities that health educators targeted for behavioral interventions would be more successful than interventions that are not culturally sensitive. Between 1997 and 2002, 52 focus groups of youth, women, and men were conducted in the Appalachian portions of 10 states to discern cultural themes relevant to health education in Appalachia. Groups occurred within the context of 5 studies funded by institutes within the National Institutes of Health.