Talk directly to your kids about risks of tobacco use; if friends or relatives died from tobacco-related illnesses, let your kids know.

If you use tobacco, you can still make a difference. Your best move, of course, is to try to quit. Meanwhile, don't use tobacco in your child's presence, don't offer it to them, and don't leave it where they can easily get to it.

Start the dialog about tobacco use at age 5 or 6 and continue through high school years. Many kids start using tobacco by age 11, and many are addicted by age 14.

Know if your kids' friends use tobacco. Talk about ways to refuse tobacco.

Discuss with kids how the tobacco companies try to use TV, movies, and magazine ads to make the use of tobacco seem glamourous.