10 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 25, 1997 No one knows how to stop youth from tobacco use The Washington Post When the state of Arizona launched a multimillion-dollar anti-smoking cam- paign, officials decided to target youths by appealing to them in their own lan- guage. The slogan "Tobacco. Tumor causing, teeth staining, smelly puking habit," became nearly ubiquitous begin- ning in 1996, emblazoned on T-shirts, billboards, caps, pens, key chains, boxer shorts and more across the state. It was the most visible part of a $30- million tobacco education and cessation program. It was tough. It was in your face. And with some kids, at least, it backfired. Just ask 16-year-old Ashley Lane, whose friends donned the T-shirts so that they could be seen wearing them while smoking. Some even burned cig- arette holes in the shirts. "We all thought it was a joke, basically ... Like 'Look at me, ha ha,' outright defiance. It was like, 'yeah, right, whatever."' Arizona's experience illustrates a sobering fact: No one really knows what works. State and local campaigns in this country and others have tried many approaches to stop children from smok- ing, including price increases, crack- downs on sales to minors, and restric- tions on advertising and promotional activities that appeal to young people. The efforts ha e produced promising, but decidedly mixed. results. "We have made some fundamental assumptions, and they're based on our intuitive grasp--- but they are not based on hard fact, said Richard Clayton, head of a cessation-research program at the University of Kentucky. "The sci- ence is emerging on this but it hasn't in any strong sense arrived." As a Top-Ranked Michigan Graduate, you'll find opportunities that exceed your expectation at Makino. We are the leading provider of high speed, CNC machine tools and customers solutions for major Fortune 500 companies. We do this everyday in an environment that inspires innovation...with technology that is a step ahead...setting new industry standards. You could be right here on the front lines of machining technology, developing solutions fcr some of the world's leading aerospace diemold, and automotive companies. In fact the next time you get on an airplance or drive your car, you are probably using technology developed right here at Makino. Exciting career opportunities exist for qualified individuals at both our Cincinnati, OH and Los Angeles offices. If you will graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, consider a career at Makino in the following areas: Tobacco control experts say that little has been done to effectively gauge the success of youth programs, and that sci- ence appears to be far from determining how to overcome what is perhaps the most perplexing obstacle: the contrari- ness of the adolescent mind. "The truth is we really don't know a lot about what we can do," said John Pierce of the University of California at San Diego, who measures smoking behavior for the state. "We certainly know that we're getting blown away by the industry at the moment." Despite all of the anti-tobacco efforts in recent years, teen-agers' attitudes toward smoking are growing more pos- itive. Since 1991, the proportion of eighth-graders who say they disapprove of smoking a pack a day has fallen from 83 percent to 77 percent; among 12th- graders, from 71 percent to 67 percent, according to the University of Michigan's nationwide "Monitoring the F'uture" survey. Today, about 90 percent of smokers take up the habit before they turn 18, public health officials say; 3,000 kids try smoking each day, and an estimated 1,000 of them become regular smokers, In 1996, 30 percent of 10th-graders and 34 percent of 12th-graders smoked in the previous month, and smoking jumped by nearly half among eighth- and 10th-graders between 1991 and 1996. But research on exactly what factors lead young people to smoke is murky. They appear to be a blend of parental We offer an outstanding compensation and benefits package including 401 K, pension and profit sharing plans. Our college recruitment coor- dinator will be conducting on-campus interviews on December 2 and 3. Please contact your career guidance office for further information. You can also write to us at: College Recruitment Coordinator, Makino, 7680 Innovation Way, Mason, OH 45040. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. MAKINO Visit our web site at: www.makino.com Wu n ~e II can TM tle E l M:Olll f yt x +Y ;1:51 x i' yr h( d d I NM '. M yaa.xxyy^" yu UTH ^ Y! i V FILE PHOTO With attitudes toward smoking growing more positive, experts wonder what they can do to stop America's youth from using tobacco products. smoking, peer pressure and advertising, said Richard Pollay, a tobacco advertis- ing expert at the University of British Columbia. 'Any reasonable judgment shows that there is an influential role of advertising. It's impossible to quantify exactly its contribution relative to other factors like peer pressure - but it con- tributes to these other factors." Ashley Lane started smoking years ago. "It wasn't like people E passing a cigarette and I said 'Well, okay. I guess.' I went to look for some- body who could give me cigarettes so I could go smoking. I wanted to be part of the party crowd and that was part of it." She bummed her first smokes off of a couple of worldly I I -year-olds. Tobacco companies may get subpoenas The Washington Post WASHINGTON In hearings on the proposed national tobacco settle- ment earlier this month, House Commerce Committee Chair Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (R-Va.), one of the tobacco industry's staunchest defenders in Congress, demanded that the compa- nies turn over a trove of sealed docu- ments !ong sought by industry foes. "If the tobacco industry engaged * criminal or fraudulent activities, then Congress has a right ... to know before legislation is enacted," Bliley told a standing-room-only crowd. In a letter to Philip Morris Cos., Bliley said that if the documents were not turned over voluntarily by Dec. 4, he would "con- sider issuing a subpoena" the next day for their production. The 864 documents are among hun- dreds of thousands that have been ce4 lected in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Hubert H. Humphrey I11, one of 40 state attorneys general who have sued the industry. A special master handling the Minnesota case has ruled that the documents must be disclosed, rejecting industry arguments that they are protected by attorney- client confidentiality. In his letter, Bliley said they have been identified "as possibly containing evidence criminal or fraudulent activities by ce tain tobacco companies." Bliley's action shocked some tobac- co foes, while others were skeptical of his motives. Philip Morris is a potent force in Bliley's district, and according to Common Cause, Bliley has received more tobacco campaign contributions than any House member - about $133,000 since 1987. "If the request comes from the co gressman from Philip Morris, it's mo likely to be fulfilled voluntarily from the industry" said Eric Johnson, an aide to Humphrey. However, Rep. Henry A. Waxman, (D-Calif), one of tobacco's strongest foes, commended Bliley. "I think he was genuinely determined to get these documents .... "Waxman said after the hearing. "I don't see an ulterior motive. .. I think he is sincere and genuine" Other congressional sources sa* Bliley might have broken ranks with the industry because he is frustrated that the companies ignored members of Congress in the negotiations that pro- duced the proposed tobacco deal. ACADEMIC - PROGRAMS ABROAD PARIS - MONTPELLIER Study within the French University System : - Humanities, Arts, Social,