the tobacco industry kids menu

 

Decoteau describes Somali parents’ understanding of a “perfect storm” which brewed the circumstances for their children to contract autism in Toronto. This perfect storm occurred at the intersection of race, nationality, and migration as a “conjuncture of causal factors that add up, at the perfect moment, to the development of autism … Autism is not one thing. It's multiple things that happen, unfortunately, for some children at the same time …” (Decoteau 2017:174). In a similar way, the United States is currently experiencing an underage (children-targeted) nicotine epidemic by Big Tobacco brewing the "perfect storm". In this picture, you will see vape juices that contain carbon monoxide, diacetyl, and other deadly chemicals that are packaged in colorful, attention-grabbing, and harmless candy packaging. Children are clearly the target audience by making fruity and candy-like flavors; children see familiar candy packaging that they like and are much more interested in vaping or continuing vaping after trying it for the first time. The misleading packaging also targets children who may not be as aware of what actually is wrapped up in this packaging. Not only do these vape juices look encouraging to children, but they also provide children an inconspicuous way to smoke; there is no smoke smell, no smoke, and no trash to hide. Big tobacco has produced the perfect storm to get American youth addicted to vaping by tapping into cultural and decorative interests of youth when considering packaging and marketing, and by creating new vapes with new fruity flavors that intrigue young people. This type of marketing does not exist anywhere else, even in countries with lower legal smoking ages. This distinctly American phenomenon can be compared to how Decouteau’s analysis of autism amongst Somali youth is also seen as a particularly American experience. There are other factors affecting the rates at which children smoke as well as demographic differences which make certain kids more likely to be exposed to the marketing, enhancing the effectiveness of the “perfect storm.” Generally, this “perfect storm” can be seen and experienced all around American society through advertisements and consequently the general misinformed public; this also alludes to the collective aspect of behavior, as outside influences affect the desire to use these products and their accessibility to it. https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/rps-calls-for-crackdown-on-e-cigarette-liquids-resembling-childrens-foods

Decoteau, Claire Laurier. 2017. “The ‘Western Disease’: Autism and Somali Parents' Embodied Health Movements.” Social Science & Medicine 177:169–76. Retrieved 2023 (https://moodle.kenyon.edu/pluginfile.php/345483/mod_resource/content/0/Decoteau%20-%20The%20Western%20Disease.pdf).