The scoop on tobacco advertising

Pediatrics for Parents, Feb, 2002

Although it may come as no surprise to many, there's now solid evidence that the tobacco companies never really intended for their youth smoking prevention programs to reduce tobacco use. Internal memos document that their programs are designed to promote industry political and marketing aims rather than reduce smoking among children and teens.

The programs never discussed nicotine addiction or other dangers of smoking. Instead they stressed the "adult choice" concept. The documents show that the industry's real goal was to "prevent or delay further regulation of the tobacco industry."

A 1991 Philip Morris memo stated that a "reduction in legislation introduced and passed restricting or banning our sales and marketing activities ... (and) passage of legislation favorable to the industry" would be the best way to determine if youth programs are a success.

There have been a few studies on the effectiveness of youth prevention programs. They find that these programs don't prevent--and may actually encourage--youth smoking.

"The tobacco industry is aggressively expanding similar programs worldwide," stated senior author Stanton Glanz, Ph.D., professor of medicine and a director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, SF. "No health department or school should be fooled by the tobacco industry's `youth smoking prevention programs,' If the industry was serious about reducing youth smoking, it would stop fighting real tobacco control programs, such as those being mounted in several states and by the American Legacy Foundation."

American Journal of Public Health, 06/02.