WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Statement of Robin Koval, CEO and
President, Truth Initiative on today's news from the
CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
that finds the FDA's The Real Cost is associated with an estimated
348,398 U.S. youths aged 11–18 years who did not initiate smoking
during February 2014–March 2016.
"The evidence released today once again,
underscores the life-saving and cost effective benefits of tobacco
public education," Robin Koval, CEO
and President, Truth Initiative. "It is imperative that we continue
powerful counter marketing campaigns like FDA's The Real Cost,
CDC's Tips From Former Smokers, and our
own truth campaign to protect our nation from
the deadly consequences of tobacco. The youth smoking rate is at a
record low of 6 percent and we can't take our foot off the gas. The
tobacco industry is spending more than 9.6 billion a year to
market their deadly products and campaigns
like truth and The Real Cost are crucial to
keeping young people motivated to be the generation that
ends tobacco for good."
About Truth Initiative
Truth Initiative is a national public health organization that
is inspiring tobacco-free lives and building a culture where all
youth and young adults reject tobacco. The truth about tobacco and
the tobacco industry are at the heart of our proven-effective and
nationally recognized truth® public
education campaign, our rigorous and scientific research and policy
studies, and our innovative community and youth engagement programs
supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco. The
Washington D.C.-based
organization, formerly known as Legacy, was established and funded
through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between attorneys
general from 46 states, five U.S. territories and the tobacco
industry. To learn more about our work speaking, seeking and
spreading the truth about tobacco,
visit truthinitiative.org.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fdas-the-real-cost-campaign-found-to-be-effective-at-preventing-youth-smoking-300393732.html
SOURCE Truth Initiative