Richmond, VA - US: More Work Needed To Stop Youth Tobacco Use |
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FILE - An ashtray full of cigarette butts is shown in Omaha, Neb., in this March 28, 2007 file photo. More work needs to be done to keep young Americans from using tobacco, including creating smoking bans and increasing taxes on tobacco products to deter youth, the U.S. Surgeon General's office said in a report released Thursday March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)Richmond, VA - More work needs to be done to keep young Americans from using tobacco, including creating smoking bans and increasing taxes on tobacco products, the U.S. Surgeon General’s office said in a report released Thursday.
Almost one in five high school-aged teens smokes, down from earlier decades, but the rate of decline has slowed, the report said.
It says it’s particularly important to stop young people from using tobacco because those who start smoking as teenagers can increase their chances of long-term addiction. They also quickly can develop reduced lung function, early heart disease and other health problems.
More than 80 percent of smokers begin by age 18 and 99 percent of adult smokers in the U.S. start by age 26, according to the 920-page report, which is the first comprehensive look at youth tobacco use from the surgeon general’s office in nearly two decades.
“In order to end this epidemic, we need to focus on where we can prevent it and where we can see the most effect, and that’s with young people,” Surgeon General Regina Benjamin said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We want to make our next generation tobacco-free, and I think we can.”
The report details youth tobacco use, health impacts, and tobacco marketing and prevention efforts in the U.S. Officials hope the information will reinvigorate anti-tobacco efforts and spark public activism in reducing death and disease caused by tobacco use.
The report also recommended anti-smoking campaigns and increased restrictions under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authority to regulate tobacco as other ways to prevent adolescents and young adults from using tobacco products.
Benjamin did not point fingers on why youth tobacco use continues in the U.S. Instead, she wants to see how the nation as a whole can best address the issue, she said.
“I don’t want to focus on blame, I want to focus on prevention,” she said. “I want to make sure we’re doing everything that we can to prevent kids from ever starting to smoke or use tobacco products.”
The surgeon general’s office last issued a report on youth tobacco use in 1994, the first wide-ranging report on the topic by federal health officials. The new report is the 31st issued by U.S. surgeons general to warn the public about tobacco’s risks. The first report in 1964 declared tobacco to be deadly.
Since the 1994 report, smoking among high school students has declined from 27.5 percent to 19.5 percent, or about 3 million students, but the rate of decline has slowed in recent years. About 5.2 percent, or 600,000 middle school students also are current smokers. According to the report, every day in the U.S., more than 3,800 people under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette and more than 1,000 of them become daily smokers. They replace the 1,200 people who die each day in the U.S. from smoking.
The report also examined advertising and promotional activities by tobacco companies, which have been shown to “cause the onset and continuation of smoking adolescents and young adults.”
Tobacco companies have spent increasing amounts of money on marketing efforts to reduce prices, which health officials said in the report could influence access to price-sensitive youth and make cigarettes more affordable.
Nearly $10 billion was spent in 2008 on cigarette marketing by the nation’s five biggest tobacco companies, a 48 percent increase from what was spent in 1998, when some of the companies agreed with state attorneys general to curtail or stop some of their marketing efforts.
“We have come a long way since the days of smoking on airplanes and in college classrooms, but we have a long way to go,” Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement accompanying the latest report. “The prosperity and health of our nation depend on it.”
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Online:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov
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Read Comments (14) — Post Yours »
1
Mar 08, 2012 at 02:44 PM jonkamm623 Says:Report as Inappropriate
I think hollywood should be rebuked for making smoking and drug using look so cool,something that most teenagers really want to be.
2
Mar 08, 2012 at 03:54 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I don't see many Roshei Yeshiva issuing any psaks on their yungerman not to smoke.
4
Mar 08, 2012 at 08:23 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I think hollywood should be rebuked for making smoking and drug using look so cool,something that most teenagers really want to be. ”
Perhaps you are right.
But our concern should be about the Yeshiva's where the Hanhala directly or indirectly through the bochurim shows that its cool, and its geshmak to smoke. Or they will say if I can't smoke I can't learn.(?!?!) How can parents send their children to such places, when the people running it allow their talmidim to do something that will shorten their lives 5-10 years. Someone please explain this.
5
Mar 09, 2012 at 03:01 AM Avreich1 Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I think hollywood should be rebuked for making smoking and drug using look so cool,something that most teenagers really want to be. ”
I do not know when you find time to waste in watching movies or television, jonkamm623, but the portrayal of smoking has been banned for many years now.
On the other hand, as #2 has pointed out, our educators should have taken similar positive action and banned smoking a very long time ago.
6
Mar 09, 2012 at 07:36 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I don't see many Roshei Yeshiva issuing any psaks on their yungerman not to smoke. ”
Do you hear any "psaks" from any one for you to aver whether or not they say anything to talmidim about smoking?
Do you listen to any rabonim or any roshei yeshiva?
I know I have heard many times from roshei yeshiva decrying smoking.
So they do speak about it, the question is why you insist that it is not discussed, becAuse it is, and often.
Yet there talmidim who smoke? Unfortunately they cannot withstand that nisayon.
7
Mar 09, 2012 at 08:19 AM FinVeeNemtMenSeichel Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Perhaps you are right.
But our concern should be about the Yeshiva's where the Hanhala directly or indirectly through the bochurim shows that its cool, and its geshmak to smoke. Or they will say if I can't smoke I can't learn.(?!?!) How can parents send their children to such places, when the people running it allow their talmidim to do something that will shorten their lives 5-10 years. Someone please explain this. ”
and also #2
Really. Does everything always have to come down to the yeshiva microcosm? I think the big issues here are:
Will less kids be exposed to tobacco products if they cost more? No
Will lifespans increase for anyone with raised taxes? No
Will Big Tobacco gain from higher prices? No
Will Big Tobacco be hurt by higher prices? Questionable/Unlikely
Will Yankel the retailer benefit? No
Will the Governments (Fed/State/Local) benefit? Heck yeah.
Are we, as citizens, really this gullible, oblivious and yentish, #'s 2 and 5?
8
Mar 09, 2012 at 08:46 AM qazxc Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Perhaps you are right.
But our concern should be about the Yeshiva's where the Hanhala directly or indirectly through the bochurim shows that its cool, and its geshmak to smoke. Or they will say if I can't smoke I can't learn.(?!?!) How can parents send their children to such places, when the people running it allow their talmidim to do something that will shorten their lives 5-10 years. Someone please explain this. ”
Have you seen a mass exodus from YTT after the menahel's decades long protection and enabling of a child molestor on his staff became public knowledge?
So long as the criteria of all the major choices we make for our children is 'good' shiduchim thee situation won't change.
I know people who turn down shidduchim because a sibling went to the wrong seminary but have no problem if the boy smokes or the girl's father and brothers smoke.
The right pedigree seems to be of greater concern than whether our sons/sons in law are doing evrything reasonable to be around to raise their kids.
Why would anyone make shiduchim with a mechutan who has no control over his physical desires and would rather give himself and his entire household cancer c"v than control himself?
9
Mar 09, 2012 at 09:04 AM chief doofis Says:Report as Inappropriate
So many of our leaders would be appalled to see meat and fish served together, because it was once believed to be a "sakana". Of course , we cannot "delete" Halacha, so we don't eat them together, even today. Smoking is a verifiable "sakana", yet few, if any, voice their opposition to it. Just drive past most of those "out of town" type Yeshivot, when it's between "sedarim", and you will see a bunch of guys smoking. If they are powerful enough to "asser" the internet, If they can keep boys in the "freezer" for six months, they should be quite capable of keeping them away from cancer sticks as well.
10
Mar 09, 2012 at 10:30 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ So many of our leaders would be appalled to see meat and fish served together, because it was once believed to be a "sakana". Of course , we cannot "delete" Halacha, so we don't eat them together, even today. Smoking is a verifiable "sakana", yet few, if any, voice their opposition to it. Just drive past most of those "out of town" type Yeshivot, when it's between "sedarim", and you will see a bunch of guys smoking. If they are powerful enough to "asser" the internet, If they can keep boys in the "freezer" for six months, they should be quite capable of keeping them away from cancer sticks as well. ”
And now we know why you are not just a doofis, but in fact the chief doofis.
As a practical matter, you cannot compare the sakanos.
There is a huge difference between something that can have an immediate impact versus something done repetitively over a long period that can have an impact.
Sort of like walking in traffic with your eyes shut vs. travling in a car on a regular basis.
11
Mar 09, 2012 at 11:08 AM SherryTheNoahide Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Perhaps you are right.
But our concern should be about the Yeshiva's where the Hanhala directly or indirectly through the bochurim shows that its cool, and its geshmak to smoke. Or they will say if I can't smoke I can't learn.(?!?!) How can parents send their children to such places, when the people running it allow their talmidim to do something that will shorten their lives 5-10 years. Someone please explain this. ”
"How can parents send their children to such places, when the people running it allow their talmidim to do something that will shorten their lives 5-10 years. Someone please explain this."
You actually make a really good point, because smoking was banned on public school property & in public schools & etc, a LONG time ago! The days of the smoke-filled teacher's lounges have been gone for some time now!
So if the public school system (which is supposed to be the WORST education a kid can get, according to most of the posters here on VIN), realized it wasn't appropriate to have smoking near or in schools... why haven't they gotten that clue in the yeshivas?? From your post here, it seems not only are some Rabbis smoking, but many are smoking in places where their student body can see them do it!
Now, I've actually made the case that nobody should judge Rabbis for smoking, because I think a lot of them smoke due to the fact that they learned when they were younger & it was more acceptable & people didn't know the dangers... but now that they have become more religious & know better, it's too hard for them to quit!
But teachers smoking in front of the kids?! That's a problem!
12
Mar 09, 2012 at 11:54 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ And now we know why you are not just a doofis, but in fact the chief doofis.
As a practical matter, you cannot compare the sakanos.
There is a huge difference between something that can have an immediate impact versus something done repetitively over a long period that can have an impact.
Sort of like walking in traffic with your eyes shut vs. travling in a car on a regular basis. ”
I guess you are smoker, because your logic sounds like someone who is in denial.
Is anyone so foolish as to think that there is no problem with smoking because its not an immediate sakana? Can't you understand the long term effects of your actions? Besides the best time to fight a person from smoking is before the first cigarette.
I once heard a similar line of thinking from a Rosh Yeshiva who said as soon as it would be a health risk he would stop smoking. When Mark Twain was asked about quitting smoking, he famously said "It's the easiest thing to do, I've done it hundreds of times ".
13
Mar 09, 2012 at 11:55 AM Butterfly Says:Report as Inappropriate
Yeshivas and kollels should not allow smoking in the buildings or on their property!! You will have a lot of complaints but maybe a decrease in smoking. Maybe some will stop!!
14
Mar 09, 2012 at 12:36 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I guess you are smoker, because your logic sounds like someone who is in denial.
Is anyone so foolish as to think that there is no problem with smoking because its not an immediate sakana? Can't you understand the long term effects of your actions? Besides the best time to fight a person from smoking is before the first cigarette.
I once heard a similar line of thinking from a Rosh Yeshiva who said as soon as it would be a health risk he would stop smoking. When Mark Twain was asked about quitting smoking, he famously said "It's the easiest thing to do, I've done it hundreds of times ". ”
You know what happens when you assume? Well guess what, you just scored on that one, because you are wrong.
However I can probably make a much better guess at you. You probably never really learned in any significant depth, because the original poster was comparing smoking to the sakana of meat and fish.
There are a host of other lifestyle issues that would be comparable to smoking if you were to say that it is ossur because of sakana. Which no one says is ossur because of sakana.
You certainly would not be mechalel shabbos to put out a cigarrette someone was smoking., yet of you saw someone who was having a severe allergic reacion (Fish &meat;) you most certainly would be mechalel shabbos.
Smoking is silly for a host of reason, including the harm it does to one's health, the smell, burns on one's clothing, yellow fingers and teeth and a bunch of other things, but sakana it is not.
Maybe vnishmartem, which may deal with long term effect, but not sakana.
Tell me what harm can come from smoking one cigarette one time? If there were, then there would be a sakana. The OP wanted to compare to things that are ossur because of sakana
15
Mar 09, 2012 at 02:04 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ You know what happens when you assume? Well guess what, you just scored on that one, because you are wrong.
However I can probably make a much better guess at you. You probably never really learned in any significant depth, because the original poster was comparing smoking to the sakana of meat and fish.
There are a host of other lifestyle issues that would be comparable to smoking if you were to say that it is ossur because of sakana. Which no one says is ossur because of sakana.
You certainly would not be mechalel shabbos to put out a cigarrette someone was smoking., yet of you saw someone who was having a severe allergic reacion (Fish &meat;) you most certainly would be mechalel shabbos.
Smoking is silly for a host of reason, including the harm it does to one's health, the smell, burns on one's clothing, yellow fingers and teeth and a bunch of other things, but sakana it is not.
Maybe vnishmartem, which may deal with long term effect, but not sakana.
Tell me what harm can come from smoking one cigarette one time? If there were, then there would be a sakana. The OP wanted to compare to things that are ossur because of sakana ”
Actually I could run circles around your logic and your supposed halachic knowledge. (Also your reading comprehension skills are pretty limited.)
Based on your logic you would have no problem allowing your son to smoke marijuana once, because what harm could come from smoking pot once.
Additionally you can't see the simple difference in Halacha between Sakana and Pikuach Nefesh? Things that are Assur because of Sakana in Yoreh Deah has nothing to do with pikuach nefesh which we are mechallel shabbos for. You can be mechallel shabbos for an allergic reaction, but not things that are assur mshum sakana. Besides the fact that in Halacha fish and meat are not a problem when only b'nesinas taam, yet people with severe allergies have to be concerned with things produced under identical circumstances.
When will people begin to understand that nicotine dependence is recognized as an addiction. You can't deal with addicts in the same manner as people who have yet to begin smoking. The only effective way to combat it is before a person starts smoking. So yes I think its fair to say that smoking should be assur mshum sakana.