Tobacco misconceptions are still prevalent in the United States despite the dramatic drop in smoking rates since the release of the first Surgeon General’s Report on smoking and health in January 1964.(1)
Tobacco Myth #3: Infrequent, social smoking is harmless.(1)Fact: Any smoking, even social smoking, is dangerous.Tobacco Myth #4: Smoking outside eliminates the dangers of secondhand smoke.(1)Fact: There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause harm. To view a PDF of smoking costs and casualties, click here. As part of MD Anderson’s Moon Shot program to end cancer, experts have developed a comprehensive plan that addresses the burden of tobacco use in institutions, communities, states and nations.(3) The “End Tobacco” plan recommends more than 100 actions in the areas of policy, education and community-based services that MD Anderson can lead to end tobacco at the institutional, local, regional, state, national and international levels.(4)
As a result, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), launched the government's largest effort yet to curb tobacco use among at-risk teens. The $115 million media campaign follows the FDA's new authority to regulate tobacco, granted by a 2009 law. The ads will target the roughly 10 million American teens who are open to smoking or are already experimenting with cigarettes.(6)
It discusses things like smoking may stain your teeth and turn your fingers yellow, and that it can also harm your skin by destroying its elastic fibers and weakening its ability to repair itself.(7)
References
1. http://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/news-releases/2013/tobaccosmokingmyths.html.
2. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/17/276558592/candy-flavors-put-e-cigarettes-on-kids-menu.
3. http://www.cancermoonshots.org/.
4. http://www.cancermoonshots.org/platforms/cancer-prevention-control/.
5. http://www.dogheirs.com/elleng/posts/5158-dog-owner-warns-that-e-cigarettes-are-a-serious-danger-to-dogs-after-his-puppy-dies.
6. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm384049.htm.
7. http://therealcost.betobaccofree.hhs.gov/costs/health-costs/index.html.
