Pennsylvania reports decrease in tobacco sales to minors

Illegal tobacco sales to Pennsylvania teens has decreased for the seventh year in a row, according to the state's Health Department.

Recently, the state conducted stings where they use minors to attempt to purchase tobacco products in an effort to apprehend retailers and clerks who sell these items to children. Officials said that their inspections show a sustained reduction from nearly 28 percent of stores being caught for noncompliance in 2001 to 6 percent in 2010.

States that do not meet federal standards of limiting the number of sales to minors may risk losing 40 percent of federal substance abuse prevention and treatment grants. The results were gathered through random and unannounced inspections.

Parents who find that their children are using tobacco products may enroll them into boarding schools. These institutions can assist children in overcoming nicotine addiction and lead them toward healthier life choices.

According to the the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 20 percent of high school seniors used cigarettes in 2009. Furthermore, 13 percent of eighth grade students used tobacco.