Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

A new report by the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative shows e-cigarette sales in U.S. stores increased 47% from 2019 to 2023, and kid-friendly flavored products account for over 80% of sales in 2023. Almost all flavored products are on the market illegally. To end this youth addiction crisis, FDA, states and cities must step up efforts to clear the market of all flavored e-cigs. ? The good news: States like Massachusetts that have prohibited flavored tobacco sales have seen big drops in e-cig sales and in youth access to and use of flavored e-cigarettes. ? While we’ve made progress in reducing youth e-cig use, over 1.6 million kids still vape and nearly 90% use flavored products. E-cigarettes continue to hook kids with fun flavors, more nicotine than ever and even built-in video games. It’s time to take all illegal e-cigarettes off the market.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is proud that our global public awareness campaign, #SponsoredByBigTobacco, has been awarded a Silver Anthem Award in the Global Awareness Campaign category! ?? This recognition, selected from over 2,000 entries across 30 countries, underscores the critical need to expose how the world’s largest tobacco companies are targeting youth on social media. Launched in December, #SponsoredByBigTobacco revealed how Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco generate billions of views for ads promoting tobacco and nicotine products on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X. Shockingly, over 40% of the audience viewing these ads are under the age of 25. A major milestone was achieved earlier this year when the 183 Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control adopted new guidelines to help countries stop tobacco companies from targeting youth on social media. We’re incredibly grateful to our partners at Grassriots Inc., whose research and collaboration helped elevate this campaign. A special thank you to The Anthem Awards for recognizing mission-driven work like ours. Together, we can hold Big Tobacco accountable and expose its tactics targeting children. ?? Learn more about #SponsoredByBigTobacco here:https://lnkd.in/gHAeG5ZF

“Right now, it is too easy for kids to buy these products…being reflected in the number of my peers who are using them.”?? ? We’re so proud of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 2024 Group Youth Advocates of the Year, #iCanendthetrend Youth Advisory Board, for their testimony before the Kentucky Interim Joint Committee on Licensing & Occupations in support of legislation requiring a retail license to sell tobacco products. ? Keep up the great work!??? https://lnkd.in/evatg5pW

The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has released the 35th report on smoking and health: "Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities."? ? The report shows we’ve made substantial progress to reduce smoking, but there are large and unacceptable disparities by race and ethnicity, income and education levels, sexual orientation, gender identity and other factors. The tobacco industry is a major driver of these disparities, especially with their decades-long targeting of Black and other communities with menthol cigarettes and other flavored products. ? The report doesn’t stop there. It includes details about how the industry: ? ???Manipulates products to make them more appealing and addictive ???Targets marketing to vulnerable populations, often misappropriating cultures and promoting harmful stereotypes ???Fights policies to reduce tobacco use ???Positions itself as an ally to communities that have suffered the most from its deadly products and predatory marketing ? Governments at all levels must step up their efforts to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products and advance policies that build a healthier, more equitable future for everyone. ? Full report:?https://lnkd.in/gA2ju_9q Our statement:?https://lnkd.in/e97zSgV3

Philip Morris International’s absurd “smoke-free future” hypocrisy is on display again. In Bangladesh, they’re bragging that their Marlboro cigarettes are “No. 1 in the world for 50+ years.” ? This two-faced company has no intention of letting go of that mantle.

Close collaboration between the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ civil society partners and government supporters — and their interest in progress in other parts of the world — is moving tobacco control forward in Vietnam! As a result of the Vietnamese government delegation’s visit to Beijing in July, where they discussed smoke free implementation, the Ministry of Transportation in Vietnam has committed to making public transportation in Vietnam smoke free. We are grateful to the Ministry of Transportation for its support for tobacco control and to the Ministry of Health for its strong leadership, and we look forward to more learning and collaboration between Beijing and Vietnam. #smokefree #Vietnam #campaignfortobaccofreekids

With President Buu Nygren’s signature, the?Navajo?Nation has again taken historic action to reduce commercial tobacco use — this time with a $1.50 cigarette tax increase and a tax on other products like e-cigarettes.? ? Along with the comprehensive smoke-free policy adopted three years ago, this action will reduce commercial tobacco use and save lives for generations to come. ? We thank President Buu Nygren for his leadership and applaud the terrific advocacy by the Air is Life Coalition, led by Dr. Patricia Nez Henderson and Hershel Clark.

Smita Baruah, our Executive Vice President of Global Tobacco Control Programs, along with Qian Geng, the Director of Vietnam and China Programs, joined together with Vietnamese tobacco control partners to discuss current efforts and prioritize joint actions. We highly appreciate the strong commitment and leadership from the Department of Legislation and Medical Service Administration within Vietnam’s Ministry of Health and for the productive discussions on how to improve tobacco control efforts in Vietnam. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids team also had informative discussions with others, including the Development and Policies Research Center, the Viet Nam Health Economics Association, and Ha Noi University of Public Health.? We look forward to strenthening our partnership for stronger and more effective tobacco control efforts in Vietnam. #TobaccoControl #Vietnam #campaignfortobaccofreekids

At Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Global Health Advocacy Incubator, we reaffirm our commitment to public health and health equity. Our statement:?https://lnkd.in/e9TqtBWQ

Yesterday, on behalf of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, I had the honor of leading our partners meeting in Vietnam to reflect on accomplishments over the past two years and shape new strategies for 2025-2026. It was inspiring to gather with 35 dedicated colleagues from the Department of Legal Affairs and the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund (Ministry of Health), HealthBridge Canada (Viet Nam office), Hanoi University of Public Health, Vietnam National University, Development of Policy Research Center, Vietnam Health Economics Association, Center of Research and Inclusive Development Action, WHO Vietnam and Vital Stategies. Together, we discussed the substantial strides made in tobacco control and Vietnam’s remarkable commitment to reducing tobacco-related harm through robust policy-making, community outreach, and intersectoral collaborations. At the meeting, I was thrilled to announce CTFK’s upcoming Smoke-Free City initiative, set to launch in Hanoi, Hoi An, and Bac Ninh. This initiative will be central to creating healthier environments where people can live, work, and enjoy recreation without exposure to harmful tobacco smoke. As we continue this journey, CTFK is committed to supporting our Vietnamese partners in advancing tobacco control, promoting evidence-based policies, and protecting future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco. Huyen Doan Qian Geng