WAITING TO INHALE
even for PG and PG- 13 films, such scenes won’t end up on
the cutting room floor anytime soon. “These images are
emotional and powerful,” says Dr. DiFranza. “Smoking is
portrayed as cool, glamorous and sexy. That’s what kids
remember, and that’s what they’re really reaching for when
someone offers them a cigarette.”
Kids may not get
cravings until days or
weeks after their
last smoke, so many
don’t even realize
they’re addicted.
PRETTY IN PINK
They’re feminine, stylish and
slimming—that’s the pitch the
tobacco industry seems to be
making in their latest ad
campaigns. “Light and luscious”
and “Now available in stiletto” are
the slogans for Camel No. 9, a
sleeker version of the potent
brand that comes in a shiny black
box with hot pink borders and
has a pink foil inner wrapper. Last
year Virginia Slims introduced
“purse packs” in mauve and teal
that cram 20 half-size cigarettes into a new lipstick-size box.
And there are sweet flavors like peach, grape and cherry, which
are three times more popular than regular ones among teens.
The new law will ban them but not flavored cigars, which is
what Linda Kwon, 18, of Rockville, Maryland, first started
smoking three years ago. “They didn’t seem so nasty-tasting,
which made them easier to try,” she says. Craving a more
intense flavor, she soon switched to menthol cigarettes, going
through as many as two packs a day. She’s since cut back but
hasn’t been able to quit. Linda is typical of today’s teen girls,
who are more likely than boys to try smoking and develop a
long-term habit. And while lung cancer deaths are decreasing
for men, they are not declining among women. “Every day
tobacco companies lose a thousand customers who die from
tobacco-related illnesses,” says the ALA’s Sward. “So they’re
using all sorts of hooks to entice kids to smoke, especially girls.
We’ve got to protect them.”
It’s all too common for teens to light up behind their parents’
backs. We asked experts for pointers on how you can tell if
your kid is addicted—and help him break the habit.
¾;Cffb;]fi;jdfb\;j`^eXcj% The most obvious giveaway? Odors
on clothes, hair and skin. If your kid claims the smell comes from
other smokers, check his pockets, backpack and room for
matches or a lighter. Suspicious behaviors include making
frequent excuses to go outside, leaving bedroom windows open
for no reason and using lots of mouthwash, mints or gum.
¾;Mf`Z\;pfli;ZfeZ\iejÇZXcdcp% Raise the subject when you’re
doing something together, like watching TV or riding in the
car. “Start by saying, ‘I can’t know for sure, but I’m worried
you may be smoking,’ ” suggests Bricker. “If your child denies
it, don’t push—he’ll just push back.” Instead, tell him you’re
worried about his health and let him know you’re always
willing to talk and answer any questions he has.
¾; ;feËk; Ycfn; lg; `]; pfli; b`[; ]\jj\j; lg% But it is okay to say
you’re upset and that you’ll talk it over with him later. When
you do, ask your teen how he started and why, and offer
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