Feb. 22--A local youth coalition is hoping a Web site will inspire the estimated 16 percent of Pima County youths who are smokers to give their habit a second thought.
Nearly 200 teens who are part of a county tobacco-prevention program are expected to promote www.venomocity.com around Tucson, including at tonight's Slow Jams Live concert at the Tucson Convention Center and at this week's annual Tucson Rodeo Parade.
The state-funded Web site is part of a campaign that includes television advertisements aimed at youths ages 12 through 17. The campaign was launched last Monday, and its trademark is a demonic creature representing addiction that lures teens out of their homes and classrooms to have a cigarette.
The interactive Web site includes a Twitter social-networking feature, as well as games with names such as "emphysema rally," "chew spitters," "pack attack" and "tumor raider."
"It's basically a prevention tool to understand addiction," said Nicole Ybarra, prevention coordinator for Pima County's Tobacco Education and Prevention Program.
"Venomocity is more interactive and catchier than other campaigns," Ybarra said. "It's very Hollywood, and I think it will grab the kids. The commercials are kind of gross -- hopefully that will grab their attention."
Ybarra said that kids have a better response to visuals than to statistics.
"A demon's claw is going to ring a lot truer to them than something written," she said.
The state campaign's budget is $3.5 million, which comes from a tobacco tax approved by voters in 2002.
The campaign includes English television ads, English and Spanish radio ads, posters, cinema advertising, online media and social media. The term "venomocity" was coined to mean tobacco addiction and all that comes with it.
State health data show that on average, 15 percent of Arizona youths are smokers, and that areas with the the highest percentages of young smokers are Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Navajo and Santa Cruz counties.
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