PTA History: Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth

Throughout PTA’s history, we have advocated to prevent the use and access of tobacco products to minors. Preventing tobacco use among youth is important for their overall growth and development.

We know to help children reach their full potential, we need to support the whole child—academic, social and emotional and well-being. That’s because a child cannot completely focus on their schoolwork if they are not healthy or in an unsafe environment.

Legacy in Anti-Tobacco Use for Youth

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (P.L. 111–31) bans the sale of tobacco products to minors, however it does allow state and local governments to regulate tobacco sales, including increasing the minimum age of purchase. Although the law prohibits the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from setting a national minimum sales age higher than 18, it does not limit the ability of state and local authorities to raise the minimum age in their own jurisdictions. 

In the United States, the definition of a minor is determined by each state, however generally speaking it is an individual under the age of 18. Therefore, we encourage advocates to urge their state decisionmakers to make legislative changes to the minimum age of purchase.

National PTA has adopted the following position statements and resolutions on the sale and access of tobacco products to minors:  

• Resolution: Sale of Tobacco Products to Minors
• Position Statement: Dangers of Tobacco Products
• Resolution: Electronic Cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Youth

E-cigarette Use: A Serious Public Health Concern

Today, the new challenge is e-cigerette use. With over two million children and teens using e-cigarettes, youth e-cigarette use remains a serious public health concern. National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids are working together to raise awareness about the risks of using tobacco and helping to prevent e-cigarette and other tobacco use among youth.

PTAs nationwide are advocating in support of legislation, regulation and/or other national, state and local measures to:

• Address the manufacturing of and ingredients in e-cigarettes
• Prohibit the advertising, marketing and sale of e-cigarettes to individuals under the age of 21
• Prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in public places and on school grounds

You can join in the effort to educate your school community about youth tobacco-use, prevention efforts and how to support the elimination of all flavored tobacco products. Find out how.

National PTA will also provide PTAs/PTSAs advocacy tools to lead anti-tobacco efforts within their communities and host education and advocacy school-wide campaign events for families.

Anti-Smoking Campaigns Across the Decades

Let’s look back at some PTA programs and campaigns that promoted healthy habits…

1958: Health Fair, Chicago

Health Fair at the Nettlehorst PTA school. Pointing out that the health of a child is primarily the responsibility of the parents, Mrs. Morris T. Friedell, (Health Chairman) emphasizes the school’s role in Health Education and the community’s role in disease prevention. Mrs. Edward Meyers, (Nettelhorst Publicity Chairman) assisted throughout the day. Included in the health fair was an exhibit showing a heart poster and the student who created it; atom in medicine; checking eyesight and checking weight of a first grader. (1958; Chicago, Ill.)

1964: Teenage Anti-Smoking Campaign, Pennsylvania

Recognizing the need for a strong and continuous drive against smoking in their schools and communities, the Lower Bucks Area Council of PTAs instituted an anti-smoking program. They prepared educational signs and secured a supply of two booklets from the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare: Facts for Teenagers: Smoking, Health and You and Your Teenage Children and Smoking. As a result of the signs and the booklets, which may be purchased from the PTA Council, teenagers at the Benjamin Franklin Junior High School now know why they shouldn’t smoke. Taking note of the anti-smoking poster are (left to right): Mrs. Henry Kushlas, (President of the Lower Bucks Area Council of PTA’s; Dave Anderson, ninth grade president; Rich Adamson, student council president; Debbie Cerra, ninth grade secretary; Charlene Oppenheimer, school newspaper reporter and Mr. Stanley B. Dick, (School Principal). (1964; Levittown, Penn.)

1967: Jr. High Schoolers Anti-Smoking Program, New Mexico

Draw attention to your PTA with an attractive window display such as this one. The Duluth Council of Parent-Teacher Associations presented it as a founders day exhibit in the window of the Minnesota Power and Light Company, Duluth. You can obtain similar cooperation from businesses in your community, but it will take planning; some windows like this are scheduled far ahead. Founders Day is an excellent time for a PTA exhibit. (1964)

1967: Exhibit on Smoking and Health, Hawaii

Mrs. Jennelle Moorhead and Mrs. A. Jack Woods looking at the exhibit on smoking and health at the Hawaii State PTA Convention. (5/21/1967; Honolulu, Hawaii)

This article is part of a series, PTA: 125 Years of Legacy and Impact, in celebration of National PTA’s mission and work to better the lives of children, their families and school since 1897.