Rating Films With Smoking ‘R’ Will Cut Smoking Onset by Teens, Experts Say

July 12, 2012 New research from Norris Cotton Cancer Center estimates, for the first time, the impact of an R rating for movie smoking. James Sargent, MD, co-director of the Cancer Control Research Program at Norris Cotton Cancer Center, emphasizes that an R rating for any film showing smoking could substantially reduce smoking onset in U.S. adolescents—an effect size similar to making all parents maximally authoritative in their parenting, Sargent says.

“Smoking is a killer. Its connection to cancer, heart attacks, and chronic lung disease is beyond doubt. Kids start to smoke before they’re old enough to think about the risks; after starting they rapidly become addicted and then regret it. Hollywood plays a role by making smoking look really good,” says Sargent. “By eliminating smoking in movies marketed to youth, an R rating for smoking would dramatically reduce exposure and lower adolescent smoking by as much as one-fifth.”

For More Information:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120709150610.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

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Rating Films With Smoking ‘R’ Will Cut Smoking Onset by Teens, Experts Say

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