Tobacco smoking is still a problem in the country, particularly with teenagers and young adults. Nearly 100 % of the adults smoking today began to smoke before the age of 26 making the under 26 years a target population for no smoking campaigns (Koh, 2012, p. 5). Every day, 3,800 teenagers 18 years and younger, try their first tobacco product (Sebelius, 2012, p. 3). Of those 3,800 teenagers, 1,000 become daily cigarette smokers (Sebelius, 2012, p. 3). The problem is that, despite the recent emphasis on promoting no smoking or use of tobacco products, the tobacco industry spends $10 billion a year on their marketing promotions to sell their products. About half of the states still allow smoking in public areas where children are not only exposed to second hand smoking but see the actions of this smoking making it common, acceptable, and setting a picture of what children can do when they are old enough to obtain the products (Koh, 2012, p. 5). Approximately half of the movies made for children 13 and younger have scenes of tobacco use, again reinforcing the availability and desirability of cigarette smoking (Koh, 2012, p. 5).

The social marketing ideas follow the current focus of the Surgeon General’s plan. Supporting the efforts already in place through “coordinated and multicomponent interventions” can piggyback with other agencies following the course of action using other creative ideas to support the messages (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2012, p. 13). Inviting state, community, and school involvement to join forces to broadcast the message to this target age group is only part of the solution. The other part is to find the new avenues to reach the younger people that are in line with the manners they are communicating with their peers.

Koh, H. (2012). Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: A report of the surgeon general. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health.

Sebelius, K. (2012). Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: A report of the surgeon general. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health.

US Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: A report of the surgeon general. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health.