INDIANA– A recent report from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals a concerning rise in the rate of retailers selling tobacco products to underage individuals.
The report, mandated annually to SAMHSA, details the state’s efforts to enforce laws regarding youth access to tobacco. It includes findings from underage tobacco inspections conducted throughout Indiana during the 2024 calendar year, information on citations issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, and education initiatives for retailers and the community.
Key findings of the report include:
- Increased Violation Rate: The retailer violation rate increased to 14.5% in 2024, a notable jump from 11.9% in the previous year.
- Sample Size: The study included a statistically significant sample of 296 eligible retailers across all 11 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) districts in Indiana.
- High-Risk Establishments: Tobacco stores (17.6%) and gas stations (18.0%) were the most frequent tobacco sellers to underage inspectors.
- Importance of ID Checks: The report strongly emphasizes the critical role of ID checks—a staggering 86.7% of establishments that failed to ask for identification sold tobacco to underage inspectors. Only six establishments out of all inspected sold tobacco to an underage inspector after the clerk asked for an ID, but one was not produced.
The DMHA’s report, submitted to SAMHSA by December 31, 2024, is pending final approval. Complete results of the 2024 report and previous years’ reports are available on the DMHA website.
For inquiries regarding the report, don’t hesitate to contact synar@fssa.in.gov.
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