Alpha Life Style Center

As Seen on TV: The Impact of Media on Smoking

It is a common tactic of marketers to target a younger audience to establish brand awareness.  They do this so that children will grow up with their product and when they are old enough they will purchase their product.  A perfect example of this is Camel Cigarettes and their playful, cool mascot, Joe Camel.  These ads ran during programming that was intended for young audiences and now if you are a smoker, I’m sure that you remember Joe.

Targeting such a young market seems like a terrible thing, but Camel and other cigarette manufacturers were doing this up until the late 90’s.  Commercials and other advertisements are not the only place that we as a society are bombarded with the image of people smoking.  Over half of kids who start smoking before the age of 16 say that they saw it in movies.  We are all aware of the impact that smoking has on our health, so why is media exposing our youth to this?

Campaigns like TRUTH have made it their whole purpose to educate young Americans on the dangers of smoking.  Just like the tobacco companies were doing, organizations that are against smoking have also targeted children, which makes a huge impact on their parents.  When kids see ads about 5.4 million deaths a year from tobacco usage, it is making them confront their smoking parents.

In recent years the discovery of second hand smoking has also become an issue that is clearly portrayed in modern media.  The toddler sitting in their car seat telling the viewer that they smoke before going to day care pulls at all of our heart strings.  No one would allow their toddler to smoke at such a young age, or would they?  A video has swept the world through the social media stream recently that shows a 2-year-old smoking.  After viewing the images and videos of this little boy it has outraged a number of parents and understandably so.  On average, smokers die 15 years earlier than non-smokers.  Why would you want that for your child?

When we are not being attacked by an advertisement on TV or magazines, we still get hit with ads for smoking online.  The average American is online for about 8.5 hours a day.  It is no wonder that social media and other Internet venues have become some of the most popular places to get advertising space.  The power that media has on our culture in the United States is very high.  We have been trained to believe that you are “cool” if you smoke.  Or that smoking makes you appear more beautiful.  How far are we really willing to go to achieve this perceived social status?  Even if a smoker is not killed directly from the effects of smoking, they will probably have smoking related illnesses like bronchitis, emphysema, or some form of cancer.

Just as the media has skewed the view of cigarettes, they have also made it seem like a game to try multiple different methods to quit smoking.  Preying on the failure of the common person.  What the ads for the chewing gums, patches, and electric cigarettes don’t tell you is that on your own you will probably fail.  Yes, you will probably have the support of your family, but they are your family and have to support you in everything you do.  The commitment to stop smoking is one of the most important parts of smoking cessation.  If you do not want to stop, you probably won’t regardless of what treatments you try.  Having an additional support system is helpful for more successful quitting endeavors.  Not only that, but a complete lifestyle change including dietary change is also going to help.

The media is used as a method of making money for these large companies.  Is smoking really worth it?  Read more about methods of smoking cessation with Alpha Life Style Center.

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Alpha Life Style Center Sponsors “Relay For Life” Team

The Relay For Life is a 24-hour walk-a-thon to support the American Cancer Society. This year the Relay For Life-Birmingham is July12-13 from 10am-10am at Beverly Park.

We are relaying to support the American Cancer Society in our community, be a voice for individuals who are addicted to nicotine products, and raise awareness about alternatives for those individuals who are struggling with nicotine addiction.

At the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, our team will camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society save more lives from cancer.

Alpha Life Style Center is dedicated to helping individuals overcome nicotine addiction. Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products contain highly addictive nicotine, and are the leading causes of lung, throat and mouth cancers.

Nicotine addiction is considered the MOST powerful addiction. Despite this, smokers are expected to overcome their addiction usually by themselves, without professional help, while resuming their daily routines and surrounded by other addicts! This completely contradicts traditional approaches to addiction and recovery (alcohol, heroin, pain pills).

Alpha Life Style Center recognizes the complexities of nicotine addiction and offers individuals who are struggling to “kick the habit” an alternative and comprehensive approach to nicotine addiction without pain, needles, drugs or side effects. Our program, unlike most approaches, addresses both the physical AND psychological components of addiction.

By joining or donating to our team, you will be a part of a life-changing event that gives everyone in the community a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

p.s. $10 is the minimum online donation amount……and $10 DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Donate now and see how!

Go to www.relayforlife.org/birminghammi to donate.

Thank you for your support!

Team Alpha Life Style Center of Birmingham

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Alpha supports Children’s Leukemia Foundation at Dearborn Women’s Expo March 7th

Come join Alpha Life Style Center on Sunday, March 7th 10am-5pm for a great day of special events, discounted products and services, auctions, door prizes, games and information. Bring your gold for CASH on the spot. $3 entry fee, $1 OFF coupon at http://showforwomen.com/. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan.

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Alpha supports Oakland County Children’s Village Foundation!

Kelly has served as a member of the Oakland County Children’s Village Foundation since 2007. The Foundation was extablished in 1994 as a non-profit organization that provided for educational enrichment programs, scholarships, innovative prevention and rehabilitation programming and recreational opportunities that promote lifelong learning and development to residents of Children’s Village. Children’s Village is a residential youth home housing >1,200 abused, neglected and delinquent youth annually.

The Children’s Village Foundation holds 2 fundraising events annually. A Golf Outing in the Spring and a dinner/auction event, the Autumn Adventure, in the fall. We always welcome cash donations, auction items, event attendees, new foundation members and donation items for the children. To find out more about Oakland County Children’s Village and the CV Foundation visit www.oakgov.com/childvil or call Kelly @ 248-594-1303.

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Alpha attends Oakland County Wellness Coalition Mtng 01/13/10

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Laser Therapy Featured on Today Show!

Check out this video featured on the Today Show of a group of smokers and the methods they used to kick the habit.

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