Acetaldehyde induces cytotoxicity by disrupting mitochondrial function to cause oxidative stress in neural cells (Yan et al., 2022), while acrolein causes DNA damage and oxidative stress in non-neural cells (Hikisz and Jacenik, 2023) and is elevated in the brain of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (Liu et al., 2018
According to their 2025 Lights, Camera, Addiction: How Persistent On-Screen Tobacco Imagery Continues to Fuel Nicotine Addiction Among Young Audiences report, in 2023, seven of the top 15 shows most popular among 15- to 24-year-olds in 2023 displayed tobacco. Of those shows, only one had not appeared in the organizations previous reports and included series such as The Simpsons , Family Guy and American Dad , underscoring how tobacco imagery remains a persistent problem. Pop Culture as a Mirror So why are images of smoking resurging
Reduced healthcare costs, increased productivity due to better health, lower home and car insurance premiums for non-smokers, and the elimination of smoke-related damage to homes and belongings all contribute to the financial advantage of choosing fake cigarettes as a cessation tool
Amelie Ramirez of the IHPR at UT Health San Antonio
And then when you go to do it, you just try to talk and listen