Arizona Kids 'Kick Butts' on March 23

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Mar 21, 2011, 01:19 ET

State Leaders Urged to Support Higher Tobacco Taxes, Other Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Arizona will take center stage in the fight against tobacco on March 23 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 16th annual Kick Butts Day. Hundreds of events are planned across the nation (for a list of local events see below).

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Sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kick Butts Day is an annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco use. Kids are sending two powerful messages on Kick Butts Day: They want the tobacco companies to stop targeting them with marketing for cigarettes and other tobacco products, and they want elected leaders to do more to protect them from tobacco.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and other public health advocates are calling on elected officials to support proven measures to reduce tobacco use and its devastating toll. As states struggle with budget deficits, legislators should increase tobacco taxes both to prevent kids from smoking and to raise revenue to balance budgets and fund critical programs. States should also enact smoke-free air laws that apply to all workplaces and public places and implement well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

"On Kick Butts Day, kids are standing up to the tobacco companies, and elected officials should stand with them by supporting proven tobacco prevention measures," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We know what works to reduce smoking and other tobacco use. Every state should implement these proven solutions, including higher tobacco taxes, well-funded tobacco prevention programs and smoke-free air laws."

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people and costing $96 billion in health care bills each year. While the nation has made significant progress in reducing youth smoking, 19.5 percent of high school students still smoke.

In Arizona, tobacco use claims 6,800 lives and costs $1.3 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 19.7 percent of the state's high school students smoke, and 24,000 kids try cigarettes for the first time each year.

On Kick Butts Day, kids turn the tables on Big Tobacco with events that range from "They put WHAT in a cigarette?" demonstrations to carnivals to rallies at state capitols. Activities in Arizona include (all events are on March 23 unless otherwise noted):

La Paz County Public Health Education & Prevention Program will host a Kick Butts Day program at Player's 9th Street Youth Center. Youth will participate in a poster-making contest and a cigarette butt clean-up at the park. Time: 3 PM. Location: 1309 W. 9th Street, Parker. Contact: Tammy Minor (928) 669-1062.

In Clifton, members of the Youth Coalition will participate in a flash mob on the Laugharn Elementary playground and ring the bell at lunch to represent how many people die each day from tobacco in Arizona. A graffiti wall with pictures of movie stars who have died from tobacco diseases will also be on display. Time: 10:30 AM. Location: 110 Hill Street, Clifton. Contact: Carren Nicklas (928) 865-2601.

In Yuma, students at Cibola High School will hang donated jeans on a clothesline to represent the number of lives that are lost due to tobacco use. After the event, the jeans will be donated to a shelter for domestic violence victims. Time: 11 AM. Location: 4100 W. 20th Street, Yuma. Contact: Lorraine Castro (928) 446-6304.

On March 25, students and teachers at Hotevilla Bacavi Community School and the Hopi Tribal Tobacco Program will host a school assembly in Hotevilla. Special guests include Chairman Leroy Shingoitewa, Vice Chairman Herman Honanie, Miss Hopi, Johnetta Honie and Miss Indian Arizona, Sweetie Cody. Time: 1:30 PM. Location: Hopi Reservation, Highway 264, Hotevilla. Contact: Deborah Baker (928) 734-2462.

Note to the media: For a list of Kick Butts Day events in Arizona, visit www.kickbuttsday.org/events. Additional information about tobacco, including state-by-state statistics, can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.