Teen Tobacco Use: Bad News
07/29/99
Consider the facts:
In the next 24 hours, 3,000 kids will start smoking, according to the American Cancer Society.
If nothing is done, 5 million children will eventually die from tobacco use, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention.
Smoking among teens has increased to the highest level in 16 years, according to a recent University of Michigan study.
All pretty daunting statistics by anyone’s estimate.
With those numbers as his backdrop, President Clinton targeted teen smoking as he spoke with tobacco growers in Kentucky today. With teens now considered the highest risk group for tobacco use, the president is pushing a plan to slap the industry with more than half a trillion dollars in fines for selling to minors.
And if teen smoking rates do not drop, Clinton wants to make those fines even stronger.
Cigarettes
