Candy Flavored Tobacco is a Trick, Not a Treat!

Mint, cherry, melon, chocolate and grape.  These are the candy flavors many Wisconsin youth will get while Trick-or-Treating this year.  They are also the same flavors being added to new tobacco products now being seen by young people at convenience stores across Wisconsin.

When I found out about these candy-flavored tobacco products, I would not have believed it had I not seen them on the shelves of several local convenience stores and grocery stores, myself.  You can't tell these tobacco products from candy because of the packaging and scents.  I've been spreading the word to my friends, parents and teachers to be aware.  Scary!

These new products aren't delicious, they're MANIPULICIOUS!  "Manipulicious" is also the name of our youth tobacco prevention group's awareness campaign.  The campaign demonstrates to our peers how harmful these new forms of chewing tobacco, little cigars and other tobacco products are.  We don't want them to be fooled by candy flavors and bright colors.

As part of the Manipulicious campaign, we get the message out to the community through activities called "FACTivisms".  FACT plus ACTION equals FACTivism.  Members of our group recently participated in the 4th Annual Pumpkin Roll hosted by the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs.  We handed out candies with the message, "Candy-flavored tobacco is not delicious, it's Manipulicious!"  The message worked!  Adults and kids wanted to learn more about these tobacco products and we showed them presentation plates displaying a mix of candy and tobacco products.  Very few adults and kids could tell the difference and those who could, did a double-take!

Remember, even if they look less harmful, these new tobacco products are dangerous!  Don't let yourself be tricked this Halloween!

Brianna Coffey
Age 16
FACT Member