Letter: Still a burning issue

Editor, Daily News:

A recent survey by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed an increase in the youth smoking rate. Twenty-three percent of students (grades 9-12) smoked a cigarette within the month of the survey being taken.

The tobacco industry continues to target the nation's youth market with their deadly products, using underhanded marketing tactics.

R.J. Reynolds in particular has launched several marketing campaigns that seek to link smoking with alcohol use, gambling and rebellious behavior.

To entice this impressionable market, R.J. Reynolds is selling alcohol-flavored cigarettes. Although they claim these new cigarettes are marketed towards young adults, their appeal to youth beginning to experiment with alcohol is obvious. This campaign deceptively presents smoking as fun and safe with a sexy, exotic appeal.

Informing citizens on ways to combat these powerful market forces, the American Lung Association's "Continuing the Flavored Cigarette Trend" report exposes some of the marketing techniques used to hook young people on this deadly product. While the state of Florida has increased spending for youth tobacco education from $1 million last year to $5.6 million in 2006-07, we must continue to protect our children by demanding greater funding of youth programs and stricter regulation of tobacco sales and promotion.

Alcohol-flavored cigarettes are proof that tobacco companies are trying to attract and addict a new generation of smokers. To become an advocate for Florida youth tobacco education, visit www.lungfla.org

You have the power to save the life of someone you know.

Shirley M. Westrate , St. Petersburg , Area executive director, American Lung Association of Florida