Tobacco Free Florida Campaign Aims to Prevent Youth Tobacco Initiation

Source: Healthy Okaloosa PIO, March 23, 2022

FORT WALTON BEACH, FLA. – Youth vaping, or e-cigarette use, has skyrocketed in recent years with over 3 million middle and high school students reporting using e-cigarettes in 2020. When it comes to recruiting youth to use tobacco, the tobacco industry has been successful. In Okaloosa County, 30% of youth ages 11 to 17 reported ever trying electronic vaping in 2020. Big tobacco companies continue to spend billions of dollars marketing and promoting their products at the point-of-sale, especially to youth who are more susceptible to fall into their traps.

Not only are tobacco advertisements located in prime retail locations like the checkout counter, but they are also often found at children’s eye level and close to child-like products. These ads increase youth curiosity and intention to purchase tobacco products and ultimately increase initiation. A recent study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that “e-cigarette advertisement exposure is associated with current e-cigarette use among students” and that “greater exposure is associated with higher odds of use.”

The tobacco industry does not hesitate to advertise their deadly products to youth because they need replacement smokers to stay in business. Megan Cassell Pina, Health Educator, urges Okaloosa residents to act. “We need to take action to prevent our youth from falling prey to the tobacco industry’s tactics. Don’t let tobacco take away from the bright future that they have ahead of them. Teach your children that these products are deadly and show them how beautiful it is to live tobacco free.”

Tobacco Free Florida in Okaloosa County and local Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) members are working to create a healthier environment at the point of sale to prevent youth tobacco initiation. We are educating community members on tobacco industry tactics, health effects of the products and the importance of tobacco prevention at the point of sale. If you would like to learn more or become involved, please contact Anamaria Penagos at [email protected].

About Tobacco Free Florida

The Florida Department of Health’s Tobacco Free Florida campaign is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. Since the program began in 2007, more than 254,000 Floridians have successfully quit using one of Tobacco Free Florida’s free tools and services. There are now approximately 451,000 fewer adult smokers in Florida than there was 10 years ago, and the state has saved $17.7 billion in health care costs.

To learn more about Tobacco Free Florida’s Quit Your Way services, visit www.TobaccoFreeFlorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tobaccofreefla.