Synar Information
Federal State Program Continues to Report a Dramatic Nationwide Drop in Tobacco Sales to Minors During the Past 11 Years
The national average of illegal tobacco sales to minors has dropped since the programs inception from 40.1 percent in fiscal year 1997 to 10.5 percent in fiscal year 2007, accodring to SAMHSA. To learn more, view the Press Release and the Synar Rate Chart.
About the Synar Survey
Since 1998, TxSSC has been contractually responsible for implementation of the annual statewide Synar Survey. This federally mandated scientific survey requires the recruitment, training, and supervision of local law enforcement agencies or independent law enforcement contractors in selected counties around the state. TxSSC has contracted with these entities or individuals and has been responsible for ensuring that they accurately perform and report the results of the appropriate number of un-enforced controlled buys required by the survey protocol. In support of this effort, TxSSC has developed the Synar Inspection Process Guide, which is revised and updated annually. This manual ensures that all survey procedures are followed in an accurate and timely fashion, even in the case of unplanned absence of project-critical staff.
TxSSC is also responsible for processing the data that are collected by Synar contractors. TxSSC has in place a Synar-dedicated database, developed in Microsoft Access, to process survey data in an efficient and timely manner. This database was specifically created to allow the user ease and speed in data entry, with the data entry form exactly replicating the original inspection form, a design is essential to minimizing data entry errors. The database also has the capability of generating interim reports and tables to facilitate data checking. After entry, the survey data are processed and sorted into a variety of reports and tables for accuracy checks. Upon completion of the data entry and checking process, the data are formatted to the funding agencys exact specifications and exported to an Excel spreadsheet.
After completion of the Synar Survey, TxSSC provides on-site training and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in participating counties whose buy rate indicates a need for additional assistance and guidance.
For more Synar information contact:
Penny Harmonson
penny.harmonson@dshs.state.tx.us
(800) 832-9623, ext 6651
(512) 349-6651
Texas Department of State Health Services
Substance Abuse Services
www.dshs.state.tx.us
SAMHSA News
http://www.samhsa.gov/samhsaNewsletter/
Texas A Public Health Approach to Tobacco Control
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) was reorganized in 2004, merging the Department of Health with the Texas Commission of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Department of Health, and the mental health division of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. This major consolidation of State programs, divisions, and departments was conducted in an effort to increase the overall efficiency of DSHS by maximizing State resources. All tobacco prevention and control activities now reside within the Mental Health and Substance Abuse division within DSHS. This merger allows Texas to manage tobacco programming in a consolidated manner and to maximize resources, both human and fiscal. Specifically, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse division now manages the SAPT Block Grant; the tobacco portion of the CDCs Collaborative Chronic Disease, Health Promotion, and Surveillance Program cooperative agreement; State general revenue funds; and State Master Settlement Agreement funds. This merger of tobacco programming was extremely timely for DSHS. Recently, the Texas Legislature mandated DSHS to develop a comprehensive tobacco prevention and control grant program, which is to be funded through State Master Settlement Agreement funds.
In response to this mandate, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health division has created the Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition (TPCC) program in six target areas of the State. All programming processes and decisions are based on data-driven decisionmaking following the SPF process to assess, plan, execute, and evaluate all statewide tobacco prevention and control programming. This process utilizes the SPF public health approach tailored to tobacco prevention and control. TPCC allows the State to utilize a broad approach to tobacco programming that is enhanced by the restructuring of State programming. DSHS will emphasize leveraging community coalition assets and resources during the SPF process.
Using the SPF process allows Texas to streamline all tobacco prevention and control activities, including the execution of the Synar survey, enforcement, merchant education, and community education activities. This process allows the State to target programming to areas of greatest need, as identified by the strategic planning process, and to implement evidence-based programming to meet these critical needs. This process also allows Texas to develop a consolidated prevention and control message which will be articulated across all components of the tobacco program. Interagency communication is a priority component of this process. Managers from the Mental Health and Substance Abuse divisions tobacco program and the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention section of the Prevention and Preparedness Services division meet on a quarterly basis to work collaboratively and stay apprised of individual program activities related to tobacco issues. This process allows Texas to continue to meet and exceed Synar regulatory requirements.
From The 2008 Synar Report