Welcome  to  the  Public  Health  moment from  the  University  of  Minnesota. The  rate  of  cigarette  smoking  among  youth  in the  United  States  has  declined  over  the  last  five  years. Unfortunately,  researchers  aren't  exactly  sure  why, because  they've  been  unable  to  compare the  various  intervention  methods  used  by states  and  communities  in  general. However,  a  comprehensive  approach  seems  to work  best  at  preventing  youth  from  taking  up  smoking, says  Gene  Forster,  a  professor  of epidemiology  at the  University  of  Minnesota  School  of  Public  Health. That  includes  a  number  of  components, community  component,  school  based  components, and  especially  policy  restrictions  on  access  to  tobacco, places  where  they  can  buy  and  use  tobacco. And  also  price  Forster adds  that  parents  have  a  lot  of  influence, influence  they  can  and  should  use  to  help ensure  that  their  children  quit  smoking  or  never  start. I  think  that  the  most  important  thing that  parents  can  do  is  have  a  smoke  free  home, even  if  a  parent  smokes. Rules  that  make  it  clear  that  no  one can  smoke  in  the  house  seem  to  have a  strong  effect  on  kids  likelihood of  taking  up  smoking  for  the  public  health  moment. I'm  John  Finnegan.