According to a national study in the journal Pediatrics from 2005, more than one-third of youth smoking initiation can be traced to exposure to smoking in films. In fact, on-screen smoking recruits more than 390,000 youth each year to smoke. Recently, a national survey indicated that public concern over the issue of tobacco imagery on screen has grown substantially over the past year

In light of this news, the American Medical Association (AMA) Alliance has joined public health groups around the country for a national, grassroots parent-to-parent campaign to clear tobacco imagery from future movies rated G, PG, and PG-13 by urging the Motion Picture Association of America to implement voluntary solutions to reduce youth's exposure to movie smoking. The policies and the initiative, Screen Out, have been endorsed by several national public health organizations including the AMA, AMA Alliance, American Heart Association and the American Legacy Foundation, among others.

Attendees to this session will learn what successes and challenges lie ahead for the Smokefree Movies campaign, hear more details of the Screen Out initiative, and how youth and adults alike can get involved.