Essay, Research Paper: Tobacco

The Primary responsibility lies with the advertising industry concerning an individual s health and his/her decision to use tobacco products. Everyday 3,000 children start smoking, most them between the ages of 10 and 18. These kids account for 90 percent of all new smokers. In fact, 90 percent of all adult smokers said that they first lit up as teenagers (Roberts). These statistics clearly show that young people are the prime target in the tobacco wars. The cigarette manufacturers may deny it, but advertising and promotion play a vital part in making these facts a reality (Roberts).
The kings of these media ploys are Marlboro and Camel. Marlboro uses a
fictional western character called The Marlboro Man, while Camel uses Joe Camel,
a high-rolling, swinging cartoon character. Joe Camel, the "smooth character"
from R.J. Reynolds, who is shown as a dromedary with complete style has been
attacked by many Tobacco-Free Kids organizations as a major influence on the
children of America. Dr. Lonnie Bristow, AMA (American Medical Association)
spokesman, remarks that "to kids, cute cartoon characters mean that the product
is harmless, but cigarettes are not harmless. They have to know that their ads
are influencing the youth under 18 to begin smoking"(Breo). Researchers at the
Medical College of Georgia report that almost as many 6-year olds recognize Joe
Camel as know Mickey Mouse (Breo). That is very shocking information for any
parent to hear.
U.S. News recently featured a discussion of the smoking issue with 20 teenagers
from suburban Baltimore. The group consisted of ten boys and ten girls between
the ages of 15 and 17. When asked why they started smoking, they gave two
contradictory reasons: They wanted to be a part of a peer group. They also
wanted to reach out and rebel at the same time. " When you party, 75 to 90
percent of the kids are smoking. It makes you feel like you belong," says Devon
Harris, a senior at Woodlawn High. Teens also think of smoking as a sign of
independence. The more authority figures tell them not to smoke, the more likely
they are to pick up the habit (Roberts). The surprising thing is that these kids
know that they are being influenced by cigarette advertising.
Works Cited
Roberts, Steven. " Teens on tobacco; kids smoke for reasons all their own." U.S.
News & World Report. 18 Apr. 1996: 38. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996.
Thomas, Roger E. "10 steps to keep the children in your practice nonsmokers."
American Family Physician. Aug. 1996: 450. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996.
Breo, Dennis L. "Kicking Butts-AMA, Joe Camel and the 'Black Flag' war on
tobacco." JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association. 29 Oct. 1993:
1978. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996.