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- After receiving negative feedback for the amount of tobacco on the screen during the last season of "Stranger Things," Netflix announced that it would reduce the representation of nicotine consumption in upcoming shows.
- On-screen smoking in youth-rated programming has increased by 379% since 2018.
- Research has shown that frequent exposure to tobacco in television shows and movies can make a teenager three times more likely to consume tobacco products himself.
- Experts say reducing smoking on the screen in movies and TV shows is an important part of efforts to eliminate youth smoking.
For the second year in a row, Netflix tops the list of 13 broadcast, cable and streaming services for the number of tobacco shows that appear on the screen. But for the first time in its history, the streaming service has responded with a promise of change.
The list was part of a report released by the Truth Initiative, a nonprofit public health organization that is committed to eliminating smoking in the United States.
This report is motivated by the fact that
The Truth Initiative has long called on television creators and filmmakers to preserve the use of PG-13 or lower content, supported by the American surgeon general, who stated that "the adoption of such policies would contribute to reduce the number of teenagers. smoking behavior. "
In 2019, on-screen tobacco use increased again dramatically – an increase of 176% over 2018, and a 379% increase in youth programming – Netflix's "Strange Things"was the worst offender, with smoking described in each episode.
It seems that Netflix has finally taken the criticism to heart. Just days after the last Truth Initiative report, the streaming giant promised: "In the future, all new projects ordered by TV-14 or less for series or PG-13 or less for movies will be without a cigarette – except for reasons of historical or factual accuracy. "
"I think the policy needs to go further," Robin Koval, CEO and President of Truth Initiative told Healthline. "They did not publish it officially, so they should do it publicly. Then, of course, we could comment on the policy and help strengthen it. "
But finally, she said she was happy to see progress. "I'm happy to see that they listen. And with Streaming Service # 1, we hope it will encourage others to do the same. But of course, the application is the most important thing. We will have to see how much it is applied. "
This is a good step forward for efforts to eliminate youth smoking, but Michael Tynan, a public health badyst with the CDC's Bureau of Smoking and Health, told Healthline that reducing smoking at the screen is important, it must be done too.
"Prevention is essential. Comprehensive tobacco prevention programs with multiple components and evidence-based strategies will prevent and reduce youth smoking, "he said.
Among the proven strategies to reduce youth smoking, he listed:
- media campaigns
- higher tobacco prices
- complete smoke-free policies
"Reducing smoking in movies is a complement, not a substitute, for these evidence-based strategies to reduce smoking among our country's youth," he said.
Tynan provided a list of ways parents can help influence how their children might approach smoking:
- Avoid using tobacco products yourself.
- Be clear that you do not approve of smoking and that you expect your child to live without tobacco.
- Tell your children that many children do not smoke and explain to them that nicotine addiction can cost them as they get older.
- Make your home and car smoke-free for everyone – family members, friends and visitors – and ban the use of all tobacco products.
- Make sure your children's schools have anti-smoking policies on campus and at all school events.
- If your child uses tobacco, find a smoking cessation program to help them quit. Nicotine is highly addictive. Even experimenting with cigarettes one time increases your child's risk of nicotine addiction. You can start by talking with your child's doctor.
John Mopper is a teen therapist from Blueprint Mental Health. Recently, he told Healthline: "I personally sit between 20 and 30 kids and teens each week." While he says that smoking cigarettes is largely obsolete, "it's not easy." is just cooler, "he said. .
Regarding how parents should approach the subject of smoking with their children, he said: "Parents must really put themselves in their children's shoes and validate their situation."
This may mean telling them that you understand the pressure to experiment and the strong desire to be accepted by their peers, while ensuring they fully understand the negative aspects of tobacco use.
It discourages relying solely on the consequences for keeping children online with regard to nicotine.
"Of course, you have to set boundaries and limits," he said. "But a strong and open relationship must be established in order to balance those limits and limits."
Koval agreed, telling Healthline that discovering that her child was using nicotine-based products was not the time to punish or shout: "Especially because with products with high nicotine content like Juuls, what they really need, it's help. "
A number of programs are available to help teens find help to combat nicotine addiction.
In fact, the Truth initiative has put in place a program specifically designed for teens titled "It's Quitting."
By texting "DITCHJUUL" at 887-09, teens can receive support and free resources "to help with cravings, stress and slips".
The three Healthline experts agreed that one of the best ways to help children avoid becoming tobacco smokers was to not consume tobacco themselves. But for parents who already do, there are ways to help your children not to try tobacco.
"You can influence your child's decision to smoke or not," said Tynan. "Even if you use tobacco yourself, your child will listen to you if you talk about your fight against nicotine addiction and your regrets about starting to smoke."
Mopper said, "Parents must be vulnerable to their own emotions and difficulties. Being able to say, "Hey, I understand that it seems weird to smoke and tell you not to do it, if I could go back and never start, I would do it, we all make mistakes in life, and to start smoking was one of mine ".
He says that parents can then use this opportunity to explain how and why they started, and how it affects them negatively today.
For parents who want to quit, however, the Truth Initiative has a program for you too.
"DevenEx is a free online community that has been used by more than 800,000 adults throughout their journey to quit smoking," said Koval proudly, also noting that it often took several attempts to completely stop.
"Part of this process is often going through, failing, learning and trying again," she said. "It's the most important thing for parents to do. True, every home should be a smoke-free home.
With Netflix's latest initiative to reduce on-screen smoking, more homes may also be eligible for this status in the future.
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