Children are easy targets for the tobacco industry.
Research has found that the vast majority of adult smokers became addicted to cigarettes while they were still in their preteen or teen years - well before their minds were fully developed, and well before they were fully capable of making any rational, or even legal, "personal choice" to smoke.
That's why it's imperative that we actively do something to prevent teenage smoking.
I believe that one of the best ways to keep our youth from being exploited by the tobacco industry is through early childhood awareness, education, and intervention. But, fighting against the powerful forces of greed and apathy in an industry based on exploiting underdeveloped minds is an extremely tough, and never ending, battle.
This video, courtesy of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, explains what I mean.
Stop Targeting Kids from RPCI Health Behavior-Paul Hage on Vimeo.
