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Teenagers Take a Stand Against Tobacco Use

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A 13-year-old girl from Michigan, Melissa Megerian, has been awarded a $6,500 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C. for her grand prize-winning essay in the "C.H.A.M.P.S.S. Help Parents Quit Smoking" contest. The contest, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, challenged kids to share creative ideas on how to help parents or adult loved ones quit smoking. Melissa's essay showcased her efforts to help her father quit smoking through positive reinforcement, and her winning strategy was judged to be the best among nearly 500 entries received from kids across the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The "C.H.A.M.P.S.S. Help Parents Quit Smoking" contest received nearly 500 entries from kids aged 13-18 across the country.
  • Melissa Megerian's winning essay discussed her ongoing efforts to help her father quit smoking through positive reinforcement, including creating "coupons" for good behavior.
  • The contest aimed to encourage kids to use positive and supportive methods to help their parents quit smoking.
  • Research shows that kids often influence a parent's decision to quit smoking, and when parents quit smoking, their children become less likely to start smoking and more likely to quit if they already smoke.
  • The C.H.A.M.P.S.S. program provides a valuable resource for kids to access tips on how to talk to their parents about quitting smoking and exchange ideas with one another.
  • The program is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, which markets FDA-approved stop smoking products such as Nicorette gum, NicoDerm CQ patch, and Commit lozenge.
  • The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids works to prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit, and protect everyone from secondhand smoke.
  • The organization is committed to improving the quality of human life through research and development of pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products.
  • GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter healthcare products companies, with a portfolio of well-known products including Aquafresh toothpastes and toothbrushes, and Tums antacids.

Statistics:

  • 500: The number of entries received from kids across the country for the "C.H.A.M.P.S.S. Help Parents Quit Smoking" contest.
  • $6,500: The scholarship prize awarded to Melissa Megerian as the grand prize winner.
  • $1,500: The scholarship prize awarded to the second- and third-place winners, Ashley Schultz and Joyce Holder, respectively.
  • 5,000+ kids: The number of kids who have participated in the C.H.A.M.P.S.S. program to date.
  • 2003: The year the C.H.A.M.P.S.S. program was launched as a national campaign to encourage kids to help their parents quit smoking.
  • 1995: The year the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids began sponsoring Kick Butts Day, a national event that encourages young people to take a stand against tobacco use.

Sources:

  • Porter Novelli
  • GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
  • Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
  • "C.H.A.M.P.S.S. Help Parents Quit Smoking" essay contest press release

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