ST. GEORGE – The Southwest Utah Public Health Departmentand Utah’s TRUTH About Tobacco campaign are sponsoring a free screening of the film “Addiction Incorporated” on Friday, May 25, 7 p.m. at the Electric Theater in St. George.
“Addiction Incorporated” is the true story of whistleblower Victor DeNoble. DeNoble was a research scientist at a major tobacco company in the 1980s who was assigned to find a nicotine substitute that would not cause heart attacks. In the process, he actually ended up proving that cigarettes were addictive, something the tobacco industry had been denying for years. DeNoble defied his employer and went public with his findings, eventually testifying in the 1994 Congressional hearings which led to the first ever federal regulation of the industry.
“DeNoble is a true modern-day hero,” said Jordan Mathis, SWUPHD Health Promotion Director. “He risked everything to make a difference and helped save countless lives in the process. The tobacco industry continues to spend $50 million a year marketing tobacco in Utah and it’s important for us, especially our young people, to get the facts behind their agenda and what damage their product does.”
The Electric Theater is located at 68 E. Tabernacle in St. George. Showtime is at 7 p.m., Friday, May 25. Admission is free.