By Staff Reports
(Hawaii)– From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
Ninety percent of adult smokers started as kids – teenagers. But smoking does its worst – disease, disability and death – to adults. Teens might not think that far ahead.
With this in mind, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has started a campaign called “The Real Cost,” to reach 12- to 17-year-olds with dangers that resonate with teens. Commissioner Margaret Hamburg:
“It causes premature wrinkling and damages your skin. It causes gum damage and even loss of teeth. And also issues around control, and being sort of a victim to the habit of smoking.
The goal is to get teens not to start smoking – and, if they have started, to quit before they’re addicted. Teens’ brains are still developing, and are more vulnerable to nicotine.
Learn more at therealcost.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.