FDA's "The Real Cost" campaign found to be effective at preventing youth smoking

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.

SOURCE Truth Initiative