Educational videos to reduce teen smoking – Anti
Kirk Kellough, Health Instructor, Scribner-Snyder School District, Scribner, NE
The Truth about Tobacco A new educational video for 7th – 12th grades
Darlene Kennedy, Director of Clinical Services, Wayne County Health Department, Fairfield, IL
Barry McDonald, Public Information Officer Canadian Valley Technology Center, Reno, OK
The Truth About Tobacco is a multimedia presentation which helps youth stay tobacco free, and resist the onslaught of tobacco advertising and peer pressure. Mr. Reynolds’ anti-smoking talk also motivates students to make more responsible choices about drugs and alcohol, and offers clear examples of how to say no to friends who drink, smoke or use drugs. He also stresses the importance of talking about problems, and not isolating.
Mr. Reynolds opens the video with a moving personal story about his own father’s death from smoking, when he was 15. This opens the hearts of many young viewers, and makes them more receptive to the anti-tobacco lessons which follow in the video.
Mr. Reynolds impresses on students the extreme addictiveness of nicotine. “If I could give you one message today, it would be that cigarettes are addictive. Once you start, you may not be able to stop….”
The video opens students’ eyes to the reality of tobacco ad campaigns which have targeted them. Mr. Reynolds uses humorous anti-smoking spoofs of cigarette ads, such as Joe Camel, dying from cancer in a hospital bed. In the new video, he shows the three overheads below.
About the anti-smoking “Malboro Country” ad above, he points out, “Here we see smokers gathered outside their office. Why? Because they aren’t welcome inside the building. Today, being a nonsmoker is the norm. If you smoke, you’re often just not welcome around other people.”
In this powerful section, Mr. Reynolds shows the three anti-tobacco overheads below. The before-and-after photos of Sean Marsee are especially powerful and moving to student audiences watching the video. In this section, Mr. Reynolds tells Sean’s story, from the time when he was a popular high school athlete, to discovering his cancer, through the three operations which followed, each removing more of his tongue, nose, jaw and neck muscles. He concludes, “Sean died at age 19 from chewing tobacco — disfigured, sad and in terrible, unspeakable pain.” Telling this heartbreaking story is one of the most memorable parts of the video, and it consistently captivates high school and middle school audiences. Several health teachers have commented that Sean’s story has had a strong and lasting impact on their students.
Sean Marsee at age 17 
Sean Marsee at age 19, just prior to his death
After telling this story, Mr. Reynolds goes on to reveal that the only reason self-service displays of tobacco have been placed on countertops everywhere is because the tobacco companies pay each store a monthly fee, for every display of tobacco. Often chewing tobacco is placed next to the candy or chewing gum!
The truth is, just a few years ago, almost noone was using chewing tobacco. But many thousands of kids were deceived, and concluded the stores put the displays on counters because the product was really popular and selling well.
Seeing these displays daily for years, right on the countertop at child eye level, made tobacco look like any other normal product. Eventually these displays of “spit tobacco” got many teens’ curiosity up. Thousands tried it, and then got addicted, like Sean.
A USA Today anti-smoking column wrote that Patrick Reynolds’ presentation of Sean Marsee’s story “was probably the most effective argument I found online.”
Pierce Brosnan, now an anti-smoking role model, posed for Lark ads which ran in Japan. But Brosnan saw the error of his ways, and has since shown tremendous leadership in the Hollywood community. He swore he would smoke no more in his appearances as James Bond. In a dramatic turnabout, he has set a strong example for other stars, and has become a valuable ally of anti-smoking groups fighting for the anti-tobacco cause.
Charlie Sheen’s ad for Parliament ran in Japan. Shame on Mr. Sheen! He set a bad example for youth who look up to him.
“I would not advocate censoring the movies,” says Mr. Reynolds in the video, “but let’s deliver a dose of healthy shame to Hollywood stars who have smoked in films.” He names several stars who have irresponsibly glamorized smoking on screen, and creates a new perception of the stars who make smoking look cool to kids.
Initiation
The Truth About Tobacco contains a unique initiation into life, to help prepare students to better deal with tough moments in their lives. Near the conclusion, Mr. Reynolds revives the ancient tradition of initiating youth. Mr. Reynolds says, “The core message of my brief initiation today is this: life brings everyone painful moments and obstacles. It’s designed to be that way. It’s by our struggles to succeed against adversity that we build our character, and define who we are. It’s by staying with whatever difficulty life throws at us that we heal, and solve our problems not by running away.
“Many adults run away from their pain by using cigarettes, food, alcohol, drugs, TV, or even work. A lot of teens use music. So the message of this initiation today is that when these moments come, don’t escape into these. Instead, stay with your uncomfortable feelings, and begin to solve the problem. Do the work don’t take the easy path. Only a baby gets instant gratification! Adults have to delay it and wait for it.
“And don’t isolate and do this alone. Talk about what’s bothering you to your parents, a trusted teacher, or the school counselor. It’s by talking about our difficulties to another person that we heal, and resolve problems. Life gets tough at times, but you can do it!”
HEALING AFTER 9-11 I nspiring renewed faith in the future A new way to reduce smoking (and drug use) among youth
“I have a cool new reason to take care of my health.”
To counter a recent trend of anxiety and worry among youth, especially since September 11, 2001, Patrick Reynolds offers an inspiring message of hope for the future, aimed at motivating students to “hold on to your health, for the amazing, wondrous years ahead.”
Recent studies show that large numbers of todays teens suffer from anxiety about the future, and that they frequently have a keen sense of diminished expectations. Mr. Reynolds concluded that in the face of an uncertain tomorrow, many teens, especially those at risk, may be more inclined to smoke, drink, use drugs and engage in other unsafe behavior.
The tragic bombings of September 11th, 2001, have sadly heightened their anxiety and doubts about the future. Large numbers of teens may take the attitude, “There’s no future for me, so I may as well smoke or try drugs, and have as much fun as possible now!” In fact, between 1988 and 1998, in fact, there was a 73% increase in teen smoking (it has declined slightly since 1998).
To counteract this troubling trend, in the video Mr. Reynolds addresses tobacco ad campaigns that targeted youth, and smoking in movies and TV. But he also delivers an inspirational message of hope for the future. “If teens have a stronger outlook about the future,” he reasons, “they will be more motivated to take care of their health.” He shares his own “rock-solid faith that the future holds wonderful things for all of us.” He rallies the audience to stay tobacco-free, drug-free and alcohol-free, and points out that, “You are going to need your health in the great and amazing times ahead! So don’t smoke, don’t drink, and don’t use drugs. You’re going to need your health — every bit of it — in the wondrous, amazing years ahead.”
PO Box 492028 Los Angeles, CA 90049-8028 Tel. (800) 541-7741 (310) 471-0303
Cost and How to Order
UPC number 85951500102
Why is this price so high? Libraries and schools typically pay a higher price for an educational video, to gain public performance rights. If you buy our consumer version, you may later upgrade it to public performance, by paying the difference between the two prices.
SECOND VIDEO FREE WITH PURCHASE OF PUBLIC PERFORMANCE VERSION When the public performance version is purchased, we also include a condensed version of our full video, which consists of the six clips on our clips preview page. It comes with a Clips Locator Card, so that teachers may wind the tape directly to a desired topic, present the clip (average clip length is 5 minutes), and then pause the tape for immediate class discussion. You must order directly from us to get the free extra video (not from a catalog).
SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS: Purchase orders should be faxed of mailed to us.
CONSUMERS: Please enclose a check with your order.
Make all checks or purchase orders payable to Tobaccofree.Org. 
On all orders, please include your name, phone numbers, the address where you would like the video shipped, and a separate billing address, if appropriate.
FOR SCHOOLS: PREVIEW VIDEO AND RETURN POLICY We will be pleased to ship both a preview full video and the free video to you, along with an invoice. If you choose to keep the tapes, simply pay the invoice. If you do not wish to pay the invoice, please return both videos and the invoice to us, within 30 days of the date on your invoice. Upon receiving it, we will void your invoice. You pay return postage.
ONE VIDEO PER SCHOOL PUBLIC PERFORMANCE LISCENSE Our videos are licensed for viewing at one school only, unless special permission is given. Please call us for permission if you plan to show the video at more than one school.
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT US This simply helps us use our limited advertising dollars more wisely in the future. Thanks for letting us know how you heard about our video!
Please mail or fax your purchase order, or your check and order, along with your complete contact info, to:
Tobaccofree.Org PO Box 492028 Los Angeles, CA 90049-8028
Our Tax ID Number: 52-154-3248
The Truth About Tobacco, ISBN number 0-9711567-0-0
Tel (800) 541-7741 Tel (310) 471-0303
Contact: Lupe LopezAsk about live talks!
Healing after 9-11
Since September 11th, we have seen increased anxiety and worry among youth. Studies show this trend started in the early 1990′s.
One part of our video directly addresses students’ doubts and fears about the future, and aims to restore their positive feelings about the years ahead.
This five minute section was originally created with the idea that increasing students’ faith in the future would give them a strong new motivation to stay tobacco-free and drug-free, and to “hold on to your health, for the amazing and wondrous years ahead.”
Below is some additional info on this unique section of our video.
Tragically, from 1988 to 1998, there was a huge 73% upsurge in teen smoking. Why? What are the new factors are influencing today’s teens? Mr. Reynolds addresses the most widely accepted causes of this huge increase in teen smoking, which are tobacco advertising campaigns targeting youth, and smoking by stars in movies and TV. He talks about smoking by Hollywood icons, and the attractive models in tobacco ads. He uses hilarious anti-smoking spoofs of cigarette ads, such as Joe Camel in a hospital bed. He shows heartbreaking before-and-after photos of Sean Marsee, who died from chewing tobacco at age 19 — disfigured, sad and in pain. He strongly warns about the addictiveness of tobacco.
But he also devotes a four minute section of his video to a new issue, which no one has addressed before.
Mr. Reynolds believes the new worry among youth helped fuel the 1990′s rise in teen smoking. In a recent paper for the Stanford University Medical Review, Mr. Reynolds advances a new theory. He points to 1994 market research by Coca-Cola, which shows that great numbers of young people suffer from “intense anxiety about the future, and an acute sense of diminished expectations.” (Time, May 30, 1994) Today 50% of children ages 9-17 worry about dying young. (Yankelovitch Partners Study, Time, May 3, 1999) Believing they face bleak prospects, says Mr. Reynolds, many teens want to have fun now, before an uncertain future arrives. He believes this attitude has substantially contributed to the dramatic recent increase in the teen smoking rate, to increased drug use, and to the rise of binge drinking on college campuses. Since the video was made, teens’ faith in the future has been further eroded by the tragic September 11th bombings in 2001.
Fourth, he shares his own strong faith that the 21st century will be a truly extraordinary time. He concludes by sharing his own “rock-solid faith that the future holds wonderful things!” He rallies the audience to stay tobacco-free, drug-free and alcohol-free, and points out that, “You are going to need your health in the incredible years ahead. So don’t throw your life away on cigarettes, drugs or alcohol! Be a citizen of the 21st century, not the 20th. Hold on to your health, for the amazing, wondrous years before us!”
Increasing students’ faith in the future gives them a new reason to stay tobacco-free and drug-free, and helps motivate youth to hold on to their health. And now, in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, this section has the added value of helping restore and heal worried students’ shaken faith in the future.
An initiation into life to prepare students to better deal with tough moments in their lives. “The core message here is that at times, life brings everyone painful moments and obstacles,” he says. “When these moments come, don’t escape by using tobacco, drugs, alcohol, food or music. Instead, stay with your uncomfortable feelings, and begin to solve the problem. And don’t isolate and do this alone. Talk about it to your parents, a trusted teacher, or the school counselor. It’s by talking about our difficulties to another person that we heal, and resolve difficulties. Life gets tough at times, and you can do it!”
Emphasizes the addictiveness of nicotine
Opens students’ eyes to tobacco advertising and how it can manipulate teens
Creates a new perception of smoking in TV and films by movie stars
Motivates teens to resist peer pressure to smoke
Offers clear examples of how to say no
Empowers students to make more responsible choices about drugs and alcohol
Stresses the importance of talking to others about problems , and not isolating
A lively mix of award-winning TV spots, live talk, film clips, photos and anti-smoking graphics
Divided into two 20 minute segments, to allow time for class discussion
Teacher’s discussion guide included
Offers students a great website for follow-up study , www.notobacco.org
SECOND VIDEO, FREE WITH PURCHASE A separate, condensed version of the video, consisting of all six clips on our clips page, is included free with purchase. It may be paused between clips for class discussion. Clips average four to five minutes each.
“The Truth About Tobacco is one of the most powerful and motivating educational videos we’ve shown here. It had a really positive impact on our students.”
Guadalupe Lopez, Principal Campbell High School
Patrick Reynolds’ appearances in the national media and before Congress have made this grandson of tobacco company magnate R.J. Reynolds an internationally known and respected anti-smoking advocate. Mr. Reynolds saw his father, oldest brother, and other relatives die from cigarette induced emphysema and lung cancer.
Concerned about the mounting health evidence against tobacco, in 1986 he became the first tobacco industry figure to turn his back on the cigarette companies. In the words of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, “Patrick Reynolds is one of the nation’s most influential advocates of a smokefree America.”
Mr. Reynolds founded The Foundation for a Smokefree America in 1989. The same year, his book, The Gilded Leaf, was published by Little, Brown. It is in now available in paperback, through BackinPrint.com.
A dynamic motivational speaker, Mr. Reynolds entertains, educates and inspires audiences. Patrick Reynolds has addressed Congress, State legislatures, major associations, health conferences, universities, and numerous high and middle schools. His appearances in the international press include profiles by Time, Newsweek, AP, UPI, NBC’s Tom Brokaw, CBS’ Dan Rather, ABC World News, CNN Headline News, and numerous features by the world’s major dailies. He has also made memorable TV appearances on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Larry King, ABC’s Nightline, Phil Donahue, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, and numerous other national and international television and radio shows. Mr. Reynolds has devoted his life to furthering the goal of a smokefree society, and to motivating young people to stay tobacco free.
In hundreds of live anti-tobacco talks before universities, and anti-smoking assembly programs before high and middle schools, he has reminded many thousands of students of the dangers of tobacco. This video captures and memorializes Patrick Reynolds’ live talk for grades 7 – 12.
Incoming search terms for the article:
Similar articles
- Educational videos to reduce teen smoking – Anti
The Truth about Tobacco A new educational video for schools and institutions For 6th – 12th grades Licensed for showing in schools DVD UP TO DATE with current info and graphics Video order form Live assembly programs ... - A Guide to Youth Smoking Prevention Policies and Programs
The number of young people who smoke is decreasing, but one third of them still smoke regularly. The social problems in many urban areas often lead to smoking by teenagers. They believe–wrongly–that tobacco will help reduce their stress and make them look “cool” instead of insecure. Teenagers may even think that because smoking is an ... - Buying Cigarettes and Quit
Why would a cigarette company buy a firm that makes products to help smokers quit? It’s a question that’s left many scratching their heads ever since reports surfaced that Reynolds American — the no. 2 U.S. tobacco company and the maker of Camel, Kool and Winston cigarettes, among others — is in talks to acquire ... - Quit Smoking Support
American Lung Association: Smoke Free Class of 2000 Want to find out more about teens Against Tobacco Use or other peer education programs? Or send a message to your lawmakers about how you feel about a tocacco control issue? Or just share ideas about new, interactive features you’d like to see on this site. Then ... - Report Links Teen Smoking, Depression
This article is from the WebMD News Archive Report Links Teen Smoking, Depression Oct. 23, 2007 — Smoking cigarettes may make teens more susceptible to depression, alcohol abuse, and illegal drug use, a new report states. Based on data from a government drug use survey, researchers concluded that teens who smoke are nine ...
Twitter