Take a good look at the cigarette ads you see. The tobacco companies have a lot to gain if they can convince you to smoke - once you're addicted, chances are that you'll be paying them money every week for the rest of your life.  So their advertising people spend a lot of time thinking up ads that will work: ads that will make you think you'll be more independent, cool, sexy - whatever it is you want to be - if you smoke their brand. So get smart and stay one step ahead of their game. You'll breathe easier if you do. And you'll find more creative ways to spend your money, and your life.

Consider and then answer these questions for each of the sample tobacco advertisements selected by you or your teacher:

• How would you describe this person or persons? (At least 4 characteristic adjectives or phrases.)
  
  
• What is the underlying message?
  
  
• Who might be attracted to this ad?
  
  
• How do you feel about this ad?

Reprinted with permission from Smoke-Free for Life, a smoking prevention curriculum supplement from the Nova Scotia Department of Health, Drug Dependency and Tobacco Control Unit, 1996. Updated February 2002.