| As most young adult smokers report having tried their first cigarette before the age of 15, STOP decided to take its positive message to those most heavily targeted by tobacco companies - the Grade 7 and 8 students.
The committee discussed numerous issues with the students, including: manipulation techniques of big tobacco industries, advertising practices, the image of smoking presented in Hollywood productions and statistics relating to health issues and tobacco use.
Following the presentation, the students engaged in a game of questions taken from the presentation itself. Students who answered correctly, received products produced by companies owned by tobacco industries (these products were displayed on a table at the presentation area).
Some of the products represented were Jell-O, Maxwell House coffee, Kraft peanut butter and marshmellows, Post cereal, and others. The products were displayed with other symbols relating to the contents of tobacco products, such as a gas can, tar, paint thinner, lock de-icer and formaldehyde.
Although these products are not contained in tobacco products, the chemicals that make up these products are, and this provided students with a great visual to accompany the information provided.
STOP represented itself wonderfully as ambassadors of OP and spokespeople for the tobacco awareness movement.
STOP's 2006 campaign has begun! |
