smoking

            
             Cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung cancer and many other illnesses. At least one out of five deaths in American society caused by disease directly related to cigarette smoking. (Elearnor) The overall smoking prevalence in the United States has been reduced considerably over the past 20 years; however, there have been only minimal reductions in smoking prevalence among adolescents and young adults. Among college students, the prevalence of use of cigarettes is still about 35 %.( Barry) However, today's society makes smoking seen more glamorous than it really is. By advertising cigarettes, feeling more grown up, and peer pressure are some of the reason why young adults start smoking at a young age. .
             Can one person persuade millions of people to do something that costs a lot of money, is dirty, makes them smell bad, make them cough, offends other people, is a messy nuisance, and might kill them? That is what tobacco advertising is all about. Every day the cigarette companies must find four thousand new smokers to replace the ones who have quit or died or the cigarette companies will soon be out of business. Tobacco companies have known about the link between smoking and cancer since 1953. (Jacobson) Tobacco company research found that giving tobacco to mice would cause tumors to grow on their backs. ( Barry) Nonetheless, the tobacco industry has continued to work hard at attracting young teens. For example, the tobacco companies created cartoon characters such as Joe Camel (now retired). Research showed that children as young as three could easily recognize this character. In one recent survey, more six-year-olds recognized Joe Camel than Mickey Mouse. (C.O.S.T) Therefore, cigarette companies also try to make smoking look glamorous by using beautiful young models in their advertisements and by paying film companies hundreds of thousands of dollars to use their brands of cigarettes in movies.