Nationwide Youth Smoking Prevention Program Raises Awareness in Time for Back to School

Provides Youth Smoking Prevention Tips and Tools to Parents

As children get ready to go back to school, parents have good reason to be concerned about the activities their kids could be engaging in.  Research shows that key risk periods occur during every transition from early childhood through young adulthood.  Nationally, 12.2 percent of youth between 12 and 17 years of age reported using cigarettes. (1)  

To raise awareness of the importance of youth smoking prevention and to encourage parents to talk to their kids about not smoking, Philip Morris USA is airing two national television advertisements. These advertisements remind parents of the key role they play in influencing their children’s decisions not to smoke and highlight everyday moments as perfect opportunities for parents to talk to their kids about not smoking.

In addition to the two television advertisements, Philip Morris USA has placed online advertising on national parenting websites highlighting the free tips, tools and resources from parenting experts available at www.philipmorrisusa.com.

“Research indicates parents are the single greatest influence on their kids decision not to smoke,” said Howard A. Willard, Philip Morris USA executive vice president, corporate responsibility.  “As the manufacturer of a product intended for adults who smoke, that has serious health effects and is addictive, we believe we have a responsibility to help prevent kids from smoking. We take that responsibility seriously and, as a company, are working towards it through comprehensive actions including parent communications, grant programs and youth access prevention efforts.”

The two television ads will air from August 8 until October 9, and November 14 until December 11.  In addition, new and updated free tools, tips and printed resources will be available to parents, including a recently released parenting brochure called, Could your kid be smoking?, as well as tip sheets on Parenting styles and youth smoking, Talking to pre-teens about not smoking, and Preventing kids’ access to cigarettes.  These materials were developed in conjunction with child development and parenting experts and are available at the Parent Resource Center at www.philipmorrisusa.com or by calling 1-800-768-7297.

For more information on Philip Morris USA’s youth smoking prevention efforts, please visit www.philipmorrisusa.com.

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(1) “Over the last 30 days” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  (2004)  Overview of Findings from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-24, DHHS Publication No. SMA 04-3963).  Rockville, MD.

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