Written by: Julia Cuthbertson (Brooklyn Community Engagement Manager)
As the world observes World No Tobacco Day on May 31st, the spotlight falls on the ever-growing concern of tobacco marketing targeting young people. This year, the focus of the annual World Health Organization campaign is on empowering youth around the world to combat the predatory tactics employed by the tobacco industry, which often lead to a lifetime of addiction and health complications.
The tobacco industry has long been known for its insidious tactics to lure in new consumers at the expense of public health. However, in recent years, there has been a disturbing trend of the industry increasingly targeting young people, particularly with e-cigarettes and other novel tobacco products. Here in New York, we are seeing alarming consequences: despite a long-term decline in cigarette use among NY youth, the use of e-cigarettes has dramatically increased and far surpassed adult use of the same products.
While some legislative measures have been taken in recent years to protect our young people from predatory marketing tactics and alluring packaging, more needs to be done. At NYC Smoke-Free, we believe that the movement for a tobacco-free generation will be most successful when it’s led by the youth themselves. That is why our Reality Check program empowers high schoolers from around the city to become their own health advocates, educating and inspiring their peers (and beyond!). Let’s use World No Tobacco Day 2024 to amplify the voices of our young advocates and demand an environment free from dangerous products that can lead to a lifetime of addiction. For more information on how to get involved or to start an NYC Smoke-Free: Reality Check youth group at your school, please visit https://nycsmokefree.org/connect.