AMCNO Active in Tobacco-Free Youth Initiative

AMCNO physician and staff representatives met with legislators in Columbus recently to discuss the Investing in Tobacco-Free Youth Coalition campaign. The AMCNO also spent time discussing this initiative with the Plain Dealer Editorial board. The AMCNO is a member of the steering committee promoting this initiative.

The AMCNO has joined hundreds of advocates from around the state to urge the legislature to support tobacco prevention and cessation. The Coalition is aware of advertising by tobacco companies that targets young people and attempts to derail cessation efforts here in Ohio. As an example, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco sent a series of three mailers to smokers with “Great News for Smokers.” The mailers said, “Now smokers can step into freedom…and you don’t have to step out on a good time.” The series focused on persuading smokers to use their Skoal, Bandit, and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco when they are in smoke-free bars, billiard halls, movies, concerts and workplaces. They offered a total of six free cans of smokeless tobacco. 

The Investing in Tobacco-Free Kids Coalition said the advertisements highlight the need for action on the part of the legislature. The coalition is asking the legislature to correct the inequity between the “other tobacco products” tax and the cigarette tax. (The “other tobacco products tax” includes non-cigarette forms of tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco.) This correction is especially urgent given these new forms of tobacco and the increased emphasis on marketing. The Coalition is asking that the resulting funds be dedicated to tobacco prevention and cessation programs so that the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation can counteract this manipulative advertising. For more information on the initiative members may contact the AMCNO EVP/CEO Ms. Elayne Biddlestone at the AMCNO offices at 216-520-1000, ext. 100.