Stop Smoking in movies: It kills in real life

After several years of decline, smoking imagery in youth rated movies (G, PG, and PG-13) increased 36 percent in 2011.

According to the Surgeon General’s 2012 report Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults there is a causal relationship between depictions of smoking in the movies and smoking initiation among young people. PG-13 movies are the biggest concern since they account for nearly two-thirds of the smoking scenes adolescents see on the big screen.

Smoking is still a serious threat to our youth. According to the Surgeon General, nearly all adults who smoke started before the age of 18. Smoking during the teen years causes early damage to the lungs which in most cases cannot be reversed completely. It also leads to health problems including heart disease, asthma and numerous cancers as well as breathlessness and the inability to participate in physical activities.