FDA launches "Real Cost" media campaign to prevent youth tobacco use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the launch of a national public education campaign to prevent youth tobacco use and reduce the number of kids ages 12 to 17 who become regular smokers. “The Real Cost” campaign is the FDA’s first of several planned tobacco education campaigns using the new authority granted under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed into law by President Obama in 2009.

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year. Each day, more than 3,200 youth under age 18 in the United States try their first cigarette and more than 700 kids under age 18 become daily smokers.

For more information:

• www.TheRealCost.gov
• FDA.gov/TheRealCost
• Consumer Update: FDA to Teens: Consider ‘Real Cost’ of Tobacco Use
• FDA Voice Blog: FDA Public Education Campaign Aims to Prevent and Reduce Youth Tobacco Use

Video

• YouTube: Campaign Ads
• Bully 
• Your Teeth 
• Your Teeth Menthol 
• Your Skin 
• Your Skin Menthol 
• Alison’s Bully 
• YouTube: Campaign Highlight Reel 
• YouTube: Bites and B-roll 
  (click here for broadcast quality b-roll) 
  Username: FDA
  Passcode: Real_Cost