Anti-Smoking Drive Expected In U.S.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30339, 15 January 1964, Page 13

Anti-Smoking Drive Expected In U.S.

(N 2P. A. -Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, January 14. American teen-agers may be the target of a strong educational programme against smoking, it was reported in Washington today. There was speculation that the first step resulting from the Federal report that smoking is a health hazard would be a campaign allying the Public Health Service with voluntary health organisations. Informed sources believed that any anti-smoking campaign should be patterned after the drive some years ago to get Americans vaccinated against polio. New legislation was considered to be unlikely. There is little public evidence so far that adults have taken to heart the warning about smoking in the report. Stock Market Reaction There was a mixed reaction among tobacco shares in early New York Stock Market trading today—the first session since publication of the report. Cigarette shares incurred losses ranging over two dollars, but cigar shares showed gains. Nearly 1200 smokers attended the opening session or New York’s first antismoking clinic, the New York ’Journal American” reported. The clinic is being conducted by Mr Elman Folkenberg, a non-smoking psychologist and a minister of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. All a smoker had to do to begin with, he said, was "to launch an all-out comprehensive assault to disrupt every established habit you have formed over the years.” The smoker must keep repeating “I choose not to smoke,” over and over again. To emphasise his remarks Mr Folkenberg showed a 35-

minute colour film of the removal of a cancerous lung. Once the simple decision of not choosing to smoke was made, the smoker must only survive withdrawal tortures. The first week would produce a great craving for cigarettes, intense restlessness, lethargy, mental confusion, nervousness, head and muscle aches and tremors.” To fight the symptoms anu the craving for cigarettes Mr Folkenberg prescribed lots of walks and exercise, plenty of fresh air, deep breathing, plenty of fruit and juices, and eight to 10 glasses of water a day. Danish authorities have prepared plans for a nationwide campaign to reduce cigarette smoking, the Interior Minister (Mr Lars Jensen) said yesterday. It will start -with classes in schools and a poster campaign. The Norwegian Parliament is to debate measures to combat cigarette smoking. The Parliamentary leaflet of the Christian People’s Party, Mr Kjell Bondevik, said he would ask Parliament to take up the matter as soon as possible. He favours a drastic increase in the tax on cigarettes. Olso tobacconists reported reduced sales of cigarettes and a switch to pipes and cigars. Education directors in most Australian States said yesterday that they would increase anti-smoking education in schools. The Federal Health Minister (Senator Wade) suggested that all parents and authorities should urge young persons to refrain from smoking. He said that he bad no power to prohibit or curtail advertising ■ of cigarettes, and he believed that "education is more effective than such prohibitions.”