May 31 Is World No Tobacco Day!

A day to remember we need to be vigilant about protecting our youth from the Big Tobacco industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use including vaping.

For decades, the tobacco industry has deliberately employed strategic, aggressive and well-resourced tactics to attract youth to tobacco and nicotine products. Internal industry documents reveal in-depth research and calculated approaches designed to attract a new generation of tobacco users, from product design to marketing campaigns aimed at replacing the millions of people who die each year from tobacco-attributable diseases with new consumers – youth.

In response to the tobacco and related industries’ systematic, aggressive and sustained tactics to attract a new generation of tobacco users, World No Tobacco Day 2020 will provide a counter-marketing campaign and empower young people to engage in the fight against Big Tobacco.

The World No Tobacco Day 2020 global campaign will serve to:

Debunk myths and expose manipulation tactics employed by the tobacco and related industries, particularly marketing tactics targeted at youth, including through the introduction of new and novel products, flavors and other attractive features;

Equip young people with knowledge about the tobacco and related industries’ intentions and tactics to hook current and future generations on tobacco and nicotine products; and

Empower influencers (in pop culture, on social media, in the home, or in the classroom) to protect and defend youth and catalyze change by engaging them in the fight against Big Tobacco.

Tobacco industries manipulate youth by:

Use of flavors that are attractive to youth

Sleek designs and attractive products

Promotion of products as “reduced harm” or “cleaner” alternatives to conventional cigarettes

Celebrity/influencer sponsorships and brand sponsored

Point-of-sale marketing at vendor outlets frequented by children, including positioning near sweets, snacks or soda and providing premiums for vendors to ensure their products are displayed near venues frequented by young people (includes providing marketing materials and display cases to retailers)

Indirect marketing of tobacco products in movies, TV shows and online streaming shows

Litigation to weaken all kinds of tobacco control regulations including warning labels, display at point of sale, and regulations that limit access and marketing to children (specifically provisions to ban the sale and advertising of tobacco products near schools)

We need to empower youth to stand up to Big Tobacco by dispelling its lies and refusing to use its products.

If you are under the age of 18 and are ready to quit using any form of tobacco, including vaping, please apply online for free tobacco counseling at MYLIFEMYQUIT.com.

Adults can call the Montana Quit Line or log on to http://www.QuitNowMontana.com or call 1-800-784-8669. If you are currently residing in Montana but have an out of state area code, please call 1-866-485-7848 to receive the Montana Quit Line benefits.

For more information call Jacklyn, Tobacco Prevention Specialist, Richland County Health Department, 406-433-2207.

 

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