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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Anne Landman, BA, Tobacco Document Research Annex, American Lung Association of Colorado, P.O. Box 23105, Glade Park, CO 81523-0105, Pamela Ling, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Box 0320, San Francisco, CA 94143, 415/514-1492, afoxland@starband.net, and Stanton A Glantz, PhD, Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94118.
Objective: Describe the history, true goals, and effects of tobacco industry-sponsored youth smoking prevention programs. Methods: Analysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents. Results: The industry started these programs in the 1980s to prevent legislation that would restrict industry activities. Industry programs target youth directly, adult parents, legislators and other third parties, and retailers. Industry programs portray smoking as an adult choice and fail to discuss how tobacco advertising promotes smoking and health dangers of smoking. The industry has used these programs to fight taxes, clean indoor air laws, and marketing restrictions worldwide. Youth programs have opened opportunities for the tobacco industry to create third-party alliances with retailers, educators, and credible youth agencies. There is no evidence these programs decrease youth smoking. Conclusion: Tobacco industry youth programs do more harm than good for tobacco control. The tobacco industry should not be allowed to run or directly fund youth smoking prevention programs.
Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives
Keywords: Tobacco Industry, Youth
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.