文章基本信息

标题：Tobacco Industry Youth Smoking Prevention Programs: Protecting the Industry and Hurting Tobacco Control
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作者：Anne Landman ; Pamela M. Ling ; Stanton A. Glantz 等
期刊名称：American journal of public health
印刷版ISSN：0090-0036
出版年度：2002
卷号：92
期号：6
页码：917-930
语种：English
出版社：American Public Health Association
摘要：Objectives . This report describes the history, true goals, and effects of tobacco industry–sponsored youth smoking prevention programs. Methods . We analyzed previously-secret tobacco industry documents. Results . The industry started these programs in the 1980s to forestall legislation that would restrict industry activities. Industry programs portray smoking as an adult choice and fail to discuss how tobacco advertising promotes smoking or the health dangers of smoking. The industry has used these programs to fight taxes, clean-indoor-air laws, and marketing restrictions worldwide. There is no evidence that these programs decrease smoking among youths. Conclusions . Tobacco industry youth programs do more harm than good for tobacco control. The tobacco industry should not be allowed to run or directly fund youth smoking prevention programs. The tobacco industry is aggressively promoting its “youth smoking education and prevention” programs worldwide, modeled on ones it introduced in the United States in the 1980s, 1– 3 nominally to reduce youth smoking. 4– 9 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco (RJR) reported that by 1999 it had distributed materials to millions of young Americans through amusement parks, video arcades, theaters, schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and baseball camps. 9 In 2001, Philip Morris announced that it was “actively involved in more than 130 [youth smoking prevention] programs in more than 70 countries.” 8 The few studies that have compared industry programs with public health campaigns found that industry programs were less appealing and convincing to youths 10– 14 and that industry programs neglected the health effects of tobacco use and subtly promoted smoking. 15 Public health advocates have questioned the appropriateness of industry-sponsored youth smoking prevention programs. 16– 19 Previously-secret tobacco industry documents provide an important source of information on industry activities. 20 Academic studies of industry documents and youths have focused on proving that the tobacco industry targeted youths in its advertising. 21– 24 We analyzed tobacco industry documents to determine why the industry developed youth programs, to describe the themes that were pursued and how these programs were used, and to find evidence of whether these programs reduce youth smoking. The purpose of the industry's youth smoking prevention programs is not to reduce youth smoking but rather to serve the industry's political needs by preventing effective tobacco control legislation, marginalizing public health advocates, preserving the industry's access to youths, creating allies within policymaking and regulatory bodies, defusing opposition from parents and educators, bolstering industry credibility, and preserving the industry's influence with policymakers.