A recent report from the National Cancer Institute shows that the media play a huge role in influencing teenagers to smoke.
The Role of the Media in Promoting and Reducing Tobacco Use shows that teens who see depictions of smokers in advertisements, movies or television are more likely to start smoking..
Teens have mixed opinions on the role of the media in smoking .
"I don't really care if a movie has people smoking in it, because I already know what smoking can do to you." said Laurel Smith, a freshman at Greenbrier High School.
"Seeing a star smoking isn't going to change my mind about it."
Greenbrier freshman Katie McGowan is anti-smoking.
"I wish people would be smoke-free. My dad smokes, and I beg him every day to stop smoking, and he says he can't because he's been doing it for 40 years," Katie said.
Truth, a nationwide anti-smoking campaign, reaches thousands of teenagers through popular Web sites such as MySpace and Facebook.
EX is a popular program at becomeanex.org. It reaches out to smokers and offers ways to quit.
Both programs are supported by the American Legacy Foundation, which focuses on getting teens to say no to tobacco and making it easier for people who smoke to quit.
Lauren Noto is a freshman at Greenbrier High School.
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