NYU Dentists are doing their part to help educate children about the risks and consequences of smoking, in observance of The Great American Smoke-Out, Nov. 15th
NYU Dentists are doing their part to help educate children about the risks and consequences of smoking, in observance of The Great American Smoke-Out, Nov. 15th
The New York University College of Dentistry has a new Pediatric Smoke Prevention Program aimed at preteens, “If you smoke You Stink!” The program hits home with a convincing scratch and sniff card, which emits an odor like smoky breath. The cards’ slogan “You Stink!” is aimed at reinforcing the adverse effects of smoking, and promoting preteens to pressure their peers away from smoking by telling them, “You Stink!”
“The goal of the cards is to change the way adverse smoking effects are presented to youth,” says Dr Andrew I. Spielman, associate dean for academic affairs. “Most smoking prevention programs are concerned with the long-term impact on the individual, a concept that is lost on youngsters who don’t think about what will happen to them later in life.”
Spielman believes that focusing on the present, immediate effects of smoking will help discourage image conscious pre-teens by showing what their mouths and hands will look like if they smoke and experience firsthand what they will smell like.
Reporters interested in speaking with Spielman about issues surrounding the NYUCD Prevention Program should contact Christopher James, NYU’s Office of Public Affairs, at 212.998.6876 or christopher.james@nyu.edu