Anti-Smoking Campaigns

Anti-smoking campaigns refers to purposeful efforts, usually involving some form of mass media, to reduce cigarette smoking in a population. These efforts include paid media campaigns to reduce cigarette smoking, anti-smoking campaigns that operate through donated media time, and coordinated attempts to generate awareness about negative aspects of smoking. There is a long history of anti-smoking campaigns in the United States and abroad, a history shaped by changes in scientific knowledge about cigarette smoking and its effects. Careful study of the lessons learned from these campaigns can inform broader thinking about science and technology communication. This entry begins with a brief history of cigarette smoking in the United States, followed by an overview of anti-smoking campaigns that have occurred since 1960. Next, it reviews the ...