Sample Letter to Educators about Philip Morris’ Offer of Free “Youth Smoking Prevention” materials Date Dear Local Educator: You may have recently received a letter from the tobacco company, Philip Morris USA, offering you free copies of its “youth smoking prevention” materials aimed at parents, entitled Raising Kids Who Don’t Smoke. Neither Philip Morris nor the other tobacco companies are legitimate sources of prevention or parenting materials. I urge you to reject these materials. In the summer of 2006, a federal judge found that the evidence is clear and convincing that the tobacco companies, including Philip Morris, have marketed and continue to market to young people while consistently, publicly and falsely denying that they do so. The federal court found that the real purpose of these “prevention” programs is not to prevent youth smoking, but to create the illusion that Philip Morris is part of the solution to the youth smoking problem and to keep legislators from enacting policies that actually reduce tobacco use. While Philip Morris claims it does not want kids to smoke, more kids continue to smoke its Marlboro cigarettes than all other brands combined. In contrast to its highly effective cigarette marketing, there is no evidence Philip Morris’s so-called “prevention” programs work. In fact, a December 2006 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that not only are Philip Morris’s and other tobacco companies’ “prevention” programs ineffective, they may actually have the opposite effect and encourage kids to try smoking. Attached is a fact sheet that discusses why tobacco company programs don’t work. Philip Morris and the other tobacco companies do not belong in our schools and should not have access to our children. There are proven tobacco prevention materials available and I have attached a list of resources. I urge you to reject the materials from Philip Morris and instead use effective materials that can truly prevent kids from smoking. Sincerely, Name Address Phone Number Attachments (2): 1. Tobacco Company Prevention Campaigns Don’t Work 2. Where to Get Helpful Tobacco Prevention Materials