Despite ongoing efforts by parents, teachers and the federal government to urge adolescents to "just say no" to tobacco, alcohol and drugs, more than $25 billion worth of advertising for these products is working to get them to "say yes." Because of these mixed messages, a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement, "Children, Adolescents, Substance Abuse and the Media," published in the October 2010 print issue of Pediatrics (published online Sept. 27), calls for a ban on tobacco advertising in all media, limitations on alcohol advertising, and no erectile dysfunction drug advertisements until 10 p.m.

In addition, the AAP recommends that parents exercise extreme caution in letting their younger children view PG-13 and R-rated movies and television shows, which often feature substance abuse, and that all substance abuse prevention programs, including those in the classroom, include media education.

The policy statement recommends that pediatricians actively encourage parents to limit unsupervised media use and television channels with excessive depictions of substance abuse, and that the White House Office on Drug Control Policy begin producing and airing anti-smoking and anti-drinking public service announcements.

Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics