Youth

Youth

9 out of 10 nicotine addicts started as teens. Nicotine addiction reformats the chemistry of the brain, your body, to require more nicotine in order to function comfortably. Research has shown nicotine addiction to be as readily acquired as after one cigarette and as difficult to overcome as to die as the result. For each of the over 400,000 tobacco deaths annually there are 20 persons suffering from at least one serious tobacco related disease.

So this is why we have a youth page. You're who the tobacco industry has called "replacement smokers" . The industry needs 1,200 new smokers every day. Tobacco marketing has to target youth to maintain profitability. 1200 die daily Check out the fruit and candy flavored tobacco promoted by images of sexy young go-getters having more fun than you or I, or anyone outside of tobacco ads. These ads of course are fantasy. Unfortunately for most of us who spend our lives trying to act like adults, this fantasy is appealing. Most unfortunately this tobacco cartel fantasy is a dangerous lie.

Since the Master Settlement Agreement in 1998, tobacco companies in the U.S. have been prohibited from marketing to youth. Yet marketing budgets have actually almost doubled since in ways that increase youth access to tobacco. Product placement and saturation retail advertising in stores where youth spend the most amount of time presents the illusion that tobacco use is normal. Promotional 2 for 1 deals make tobacco cheaper. Youth are especially sensitive to higher tobacco prices.

Young people are also more prone to nicotine addiction. Developing bodies are significantly threatened by the toxins in tobacco exposure. This is one reason young people are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke. Damage to the heart and lungs begins even in the womb. The genetic mutations actually span generations. An economic impact of the tobacco cartel targeting youth as beginning smokers or spitters before they have started families is that the financial burden is carried into adulthood by those future families.

Our children's children are are put at risk by tobacco physically, socially, and financially.