Message from the President Dear Colleague, A report released last month says that more than 1.8 million full-time college students are smokers — a figure that should alarm the public health community, given that tobacco is the nation's number-one cause of preventable death. The report, released by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and funded in part by the American Legacy Foundation®, also reports on binge drinking and drug abuse rates among college students. While rates of daily smoking among college students dropped from 15 percent in 1993 to 12 percent in 2005, recently our nation has seen tobacco-prevention programs suffer from budget cuts in many states. Without programs designed to educate teens on the addictive nature of tobacco and the manipulative marketing tactics of the tobacco industry rates of smoking may once again begin to rise among teens and young adults across the country. Research has shown that anti-smoking ads that convey thought-provoking, believable messages and evoke strong reactions are more memorable for teens and more effective in communicating with them. Through creative communications tools — including online resources, as well as advertising — the public health community must continue to inform teens and young adults about the marketing tactics that the tobacco industry uses to attract new customers. Only through effective prevention and stop-smoking efforts — specifically campaigns not funded by the tobacco industry — can we reduce the number of smokers and across our nation. Sincerely, Cheryl G. Healton, Dr. P.H. President & CEO American Legacy Foundation