Smoking Symposium Scheduled

It was announced that the Caron Foundation's Student Assistance Program is hosting the "Adolescent Smoking Prevention and Cessation Symposium" in Nashville, Tennessee later this year.

This event is funded by Philip Morris USA, US Smokeless Tobacco and John Middleton Company, which are all owned by Altria. You should all recognize the Middleton name, they manufacture cigars and pipe tobacco that have fruit and alcohol flavors. Together these companies produce the most popular brands of tobacco products amongst youth. In fact, Marlboro cigarettes are the most popular brand according to American High School students.

Clearly, the invested interest for these companies is insuring youth continue to use their products, NOT is prevention and cessation. Its bad enough that 9 out 10 smokers started smoking before they were eighteen (18).

The agenda shows no recognized experts in youth prevention/cessation, nor are nay legitimate tobacco control organizations involved. In fact two of the scheduled presentations are from other Altria- funded organizations.

So, is this just another attempt to "polish" the image of Altria? It would appear so, what a sad attempt...........