Tobacco's Tricks NOT Treats

Have you heard about Snus, Strips, and Sticks?

Well, they're just some of Big Tobacco's new tricks - marketed to our youth.

Today’s tobacco industry is evolving for the 21st century, innovating products and finding new ways to hook nonsmokers while keeping existing customers addicted. The products may be changing but their goal remains the same – to profit from a deadly addiction.

This Halloween, take some time to educate your friends and family - and especially those young trick or treaters about the dangers of these new products.

Learn more about the Tobacco Industry's New Tricks NOT Treats

In Wisconsin:

· Nearly 7,000 people die every year from their own smoking.
· Smoking results in more than $2.8 billion in health care costs.
· 25 percent of young adults (18-24) are smokers and
smokeless tobacco use rates among youth are up nationwide.
· 6,900 Wisconsin kids (under 18) become new smokers each year.
· The tobacco industry tripled smokeless tobacco advertising and
promotion from 1996-2006, spending an estimated 274 million
dollars on marketing in Wisconsin alone.
· The tobacco industry is aggressively countering smoke-free laws such as Wisconsin’s by marketing smokeless tobacco as an alternative to quitting cigarettes.

Sticks, Orbs and Strips
These products – made of finely milled tobacco – dissolve when placed in the mouth, releasing significant amounts of nicotine. Designed in direct response to increasing smoke-free restrictions, dissolvable tobacco products are meant to sustain addiction by being an effective substitute when a smoker cannot light up.
Camel Orbs – Looks like a small breath mint or “Tic Tac”
Camel Sticks – Looks like a toothpick
Camel Strips – Looks like a breath-freshening strip

Snus
· Snus is a smokeless, spitless tobacco product. Small light-weight pouches filled with tobacco are placed between the gum and lip where nicotine can be quickly absorbed.
· Marketed as “Pleasure for Whenever”– suggesting that the product can be discreetly used where other tobacco products can’t.

“Little Cigars”
· Look, feel and smoke like cigarettes with one exception – they have tobacco in the rolling paper which allows them to be called cigars and avoid cigarette taxes and other regulations.
· They appeal to youth because they are sold right on the counter next to candy and come in a variety of “youth-friendly” candy flavors like grape, strawberry and peach.

E-cigarettes
· E-cigarettes are electronic nicotine delivery devices that simulate smoking.
· These products rely on a battery operated nicotine vaporizer that delivers puffs of nicotine vapor to users.
· Current law does not prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to youth.

Tobacco Free Resources to check out in Wisconsin:

American Heart Association
Learn about all the policy areas your American Heart Association works on to reduce tobacco use throughout our country by following the link below:
Regulating Tobacco for Healthy Lifestyles

American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.

American Lung Association of Wisconsin
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through Education, Advocacy and Research.

Smoke-free Wisconsin
SmokeFree Wisconsin has worked for smoke-free ordinances, increasing tobacco prevention funding, and raising the tax on tobacco products.

Wisconsin is Better Smoke-Free
Learn about the new smoke-free law that went into effect July 5, 2010 in Wisconsin.

Tobacco Control Resource Center for Wisconsin
Wisconsin specific data, fact sheets, handouts, presentations, educational materials, etc. covering a variety of tobacco control issues (secondhand smoke, youth involvement, compliance checks, cessation, etc.).

Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights
A good, all-purpose secondhand smoke information clearinghouse.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
TFK covers information from a national perspective on secondhand smoke, tobacco taxes, FDA regulation of tobacco, industry advertising, funding for tobacco control, etc.

Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line
Offers free, confidential, comprehensive telephone counseling to help people quit smoking or chewing tobacco. (800) QUIT-NOW.

FACT
Wisconsin’s youth-led movement exposing Big Tobacco’s lies.

Trinkets and Trash
The online surveillance system and archive of tobacco products and tobacco industry marketing materials.