California Kids 'Kick Butts' on March 21

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Mar 19, 2012, 11:29 ET

State Leaders Urged to Support Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in California will take center stage in the fight against tobacco on March 21 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 17th annual Kick Butts Day. More than 1,100 events are planned across the nation (for a list of local events see below).

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Organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and sponsored by the United Health Foundation, Kick Butts Day is an annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco use. On Kick Butts Day, youth will encourage their peers to stay tobacco-free and educate their communities about the dangers of tobacco and the tobacco industry's harmful marketing practices.

This year, Kick Butts Day comes just after a new report by the U.S. Surgeon General found that while the nation has made tremendous progress in reducing youth smoking, youth tobacco use remains a "pediatric epidemic" that requires urgent action. The Surgeon General's report reached the following conclusions:

While the high school smoking rate has been cut nearly in half since the mid-1990s, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students still smoke.
In addition to long-term consequence such as cancer and heart disease, tobacco use immediately harms the health of youth and young adults. Smoking quickly causes nicotine addiction, cardiovascular damage, slower lung growth and shortness of breath.
Tobacco marketing causes kids to start and continue using tobacco products. Tobacco companies spend more than $10 billion a year – more than $1 million an hour – to advertise and promote their products.
Science and experience have identified proven strategies to reduce youth tobacco use. These include mass media campaigns, increasing the price of cigarettes through higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free policies and school and community prevention programs.

In California, health advocates are urging voters to support the Proposition 29 initiative on the June ballot, which would increase the cigarette tax by $1 per pack and fund tobacco prevention and cancer research.

"Kids are sending two powerful messages on Kick Butts Day: They want the tobacco companies to stop targeting them, and they want elected leaders to protect them from tobacco," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We know how to win the fight against tobacco. To protect kids, California voters should support Prop 29 to increase the cigarette tax and fund live-saving tobacco prevention and cancer research programs."

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. Nationally, 19.5 percent of high school students still smoke, and another 1,000 kids become regular smokers every day.

In California, tobacco use claims 36,600 lives and costs $9.14 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 13.8 percent of the state's high school students smoke.

On Kick Butts Day, kids turn the tables on Big Tobacco with events that range from "They put WHAT in a cigarette?" demonstrations to health fairs to rallies at state capitols. Activities in California include (all events are on March 21 unless otherwise noted):

On March 20, students at Fair View High School will meet with the Chico city council about anti-tobacco policies for the community. Prior to the meeting, the students will clean up cigarette butt litter near their school so they can display how much litter smoking creates. Time: 8:15 AM. Location: 290 E. Avenue, Chico. Contact: Nicole McNair (530) 321-3949.

The Brightest Star, Inc. will host a Kick Butts Day poster and essay contest for students at Bob Murphy Community Day School in Rialto. Winners will receive awards from local elected officials at a ceremony featuring the winning art and a "They put WHAT in cigarettes?!" display. Time: 8 AM. Address: 149 N. Arrowhead Avenue, Rialto. Contact: Lea Michelle Cash (909) 875-2968.

Students at Weaverville Junior High will perform skits about the dangers of tobacco. After the assembly, students will march from school to downtown Weaverville with anti-tobacco signs. Time: 9 AM. Location: 170 Taylor Street, Weaverville. Contact: Kari Kennedy (530) 623-7503.

Students at Marina Village Middle School in El Dorado Hills will participate in a Kick Butts Day Fair at lunchtime with 1,200 ribbons displayed around the gym representing how many people die every day from tobacco-related causes. They will also engage in educational activities and learn about the toxic chemicals in a cigarette. Time: 10:30 AM. Location: 1901 Francisco Drive, El Dorado Hills. Contact: Myrna Harp (916) 933-3993.

Students at Terra Linda High School who are working to pass the Tobacco Retailer Licensing Ordinance in San Rafael will create posters and put together a display table to distribute educational materials to members of the community about their efforts. Time: 12 PM. Location: 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael. Contact: Valerie Davis-Rucker (415) 246-8282.

For a full list of Kick Butts Day events in California, visit www.kickbuttsday.org/events. Additional information about tobacco, including state-by-state statistics, can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.

About the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leading force in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States and around the world. Our vision is a future free of the death and disease caused by tobacco. We work to prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit and protect everyone from secondhand smoke. For more information, visit www.tobaccofreekids.org.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids