Spring Break
Celebrating smoke-free life
Tobacco industry sales hit by World Health Organization, Peer Health Advocates education
Gail Cole
Issue date: 5/30/08 Section: News
World No Tobacco Day was held Thursday in the MU Quad to make students aware of the dangers of tobacco use and the positive effects of quitting.
"[The WHO] try to target a different age group every year," said Emily Steadman, a senior in public health and one of the volunteers with Peer Health Advocates.
The theme of this year's event was "Tobacco-Free Youth," which aimed at stopping the marketing of tobacco to young people.
Steadman said the tobacco industry uses various and indirect ways to attract young consumers.
"Tobacco companies like to target people at festivals and concerts where they know there is going to be a lot of young people," Steadman said.
Some of the ways PHA helped promote the message were through gathering signatures in support of legislation and lobbying efforts.
A computer was also set up at the stand to allow students to sign an online letter to a lobby company to stop the print advertising of tobacco, as well as a letter to Oregon lawmakers in support of U.S. House Resolution Bill 1108.
According to the Library of Congress website, HR Bill 1108, titled the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, would help curtail the power of tobacco companies, including greater regulation over the tobacco industry and promoting the nationwide quitting of tobacco use.
Tobacco product use kills 5.4 million people a year from lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses, according to the WHO's website on the tobacco epidemic. On average, tobacco users die 15 years earlier than non-users.
The site also said three out of four tobacco users who "are aware of the dangers of tobacco" want to quit.
Beyond the United States, the WHO hopes to reduce the use of tobacco around the world. Two-thirds of the world lives in countries with no ban on public indoor smoking, such as in offices, but the website says tobacco consumption by employees has been reduced by approximately 29 percent in developed nations with smoking bans in workplaces.
"[The WHO] try to target a different age group every year," said Emily Steadman, a senior in public health and one of the volunteers with Peer Health Advocates.
The theme of this year's event was "Tobacco-Free Youth," which aimed at stopping the marketing of tobacco to young people.
Steadman said the tobacco industry uses various and indirect ways to attract young consumers.
"Tobacco companies like to target people at festivals and concerts where they know there is going to be a lot of young people," Steadman said.
Some of the ways PHA helped promote the message were through gathering signatures in support of legislation and lobbying efforts.
A computer was also set up at the stand to allow students to sign an online letter to a lobby company to stop the print advertising of tobacco, as well as a letter to Oregon lawmakers in support of U.S. House Resolution Bill 1108.
According to the Library of Congress website, HR Bill 1108, titled the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, would help curtail the power of tobacco companies, including greater regulation over the tobacco industry and promoting the nationwide quitting of tobacco use.
Tobacco product use kills 5.4 million people a year from lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses, according to the WHO's website on the tobacco epidemic. On average, tobacco users die 15 years earlier than non-users.
The site also said three out of four tobacco users who "are aware of the dangers of tobacco" want to quit.
Beyond the United States, the WHO hopes to reduce the use of tobacco around the world. Two-thirds of the world lives in countries with no ban on public indoor smoking, such as in offices, but the website says tobacco consumption by employees has been reduced by approximately 29 percent in developed nations with smoking bans in workplaces.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.