INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Believe it or not tobacco companies are still selling candy-flavored tobacco products. Kid-friendly flavors, colorful packaging and scheming marketing campaigns target young while masking the harmful tendencies of tobacco use.
Even though candy flavored cigarettes have been banned by the FDA, our local youth are still trying flavored cigars, cigarillos and smokeless tobacco products. According to the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, 1 in 5 Indian River County youth between the ages of 11 and 17 have tried flavored tobacco in the past 30 days, and 15 percent of the middle school students have used smokeless tobacco compared to the 8.7 percent state average.
These products smell and look like candy, and are extremely attractive to our youth. Candy and fruit flavors mask the bad taste of tobacco making it easier for kids to start using tobacco products.
Did you know that almost 90 percent of adult smokers began at or before the age of 18?
If you are interested in helping prevent the youth initiation of tobacco use, then please call or email Mary Burkins at Breathe Free IRC, also known as Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River County, at (772) 770-4811 or mburkins@sacirc.org.