{"id":69276,"date":"2016-05-30T05:30:22","date_gmt":"2016-05-30T09:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=69276"},"modified":"2016-05-29T23:11:40","modified_gmt":"2016-05-30T03:11:40","slug":"on-world-no-tobacco-day-bridges-tobacco-prevention-program-urges-public-to-take-action-to-protect-children-from-tobacco-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=69276","title":{"rendered":"On World No Tobacco Day, Bridges Tobacco Prevention Program Urges Public to Take Action to Protect Children from Tobacco Marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"anti_smoking\"<\/a>Youth in this region have seen enough tobacco marketing, according to Bridges Tobacco Prevention Program, and it\u2019s time to protect them and put an end to youth smoking and other tobacco use. To safeguard children from the billions of dollars of vivid tobacco marketing in places where they can see it, the #SeenEnoughTobacco campaign launches regionally and statewide on World No Tobacco Day, May 31.<\/p>\n

The campaign takes a hard look at what\u2019s happening with tobacco marketing and children through the use of video, social media (#SeenEnoughTobacco), digital advertising and a \u201cJack and Jill (and Tobacco)\u201d storybook that describes children\u2019s encounters with tobacco marketing in convenience stores.<\/p>\n

Provocative images creatively combine cigarettes with common children\u2019s items, like crayons and birthday cake, in scenarios intended to grab the attention of community members and parents and prompt their outrage. Viewers will be compelled to learn what they can do to protect children from tobacco marketing at the campaign\u2019s new website www.SeenEnoughTobacco.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In New York State, the average age of a new smoker is 13 years old, and 90 percent of adult smokers say they first tried smoking by age 18. The U.S. Surgeon General calls smoking a \u201cpediatric epidemic\u201d and says, \u201cAdvertising and promotional activities by tobacco companies have been shown to cause the onset and continuation of smoking among adolescents and young adults.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even with all of this data, research shows stores popular among adolescents contain almost three times more tobacco marketing materials compared to other stores in the same community.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the tobacco industry ISN\u2019T marketing to youth, why are they spending billions of dollars in places that kids visit regularly?\u201d asked Anthony Billoni from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. \u201cEvery day in New York State, the tobacco industry spends more than half a million dollars to market its products in places where children can see them using bright, bold colors and large signs. Whether you\u2019re a parent or not, smoker or non-smoker, we can all agree that tobacco marketing\u2019s influence on our children is outrageous. It\u2019s our responsibility as a community to protect our children from tobacco marketing and put an end to this pediatric epidemic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additional findings on tobacco industry marketing and the effect of smoking on children and young adolescents indicate:<\/p>\n