The Eighty Four (The84.org) - Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program
Jump to full article: The84.org (MA), 2008-05-06
Intro: It's critical that teens take the lead fighting tobacco - first, because we've got the most to lose. The younger you are when you start smoking, the more likely that you'll grow up to be a regular smoker. Young smokers think they'll be able to quit when they want, but most are still smoking years later. And we can't forget - the youngest kids don't have much say in how much smoke they're exposed to at home, in the car - just about anywhere.
Here's the deal:
In Massachusetts, 7400 young people become daily smokers every year. 117,000 young people who are under 18 and living in MA right now will eventually die early from smoking. (1)
Almost 9 in 10 adult smokers became addicted to tobacco before age 19. (2)
More than half of high-school smokers have tried to quit. (3)
Second, because we are a major target market for Big Tobacco, and we're huge consumers of popular media like magazines and movies . . .
But most important - we've got the skills to be aware and critical of Big Tobacco. We've got the power and ability to share that knowledge with other young people - and rob Big Tobacco of their future customers. We're into a lot of things that beat smoking. We're The 84 and growing.
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