Iowa Kids 'Kick Butts' on March 23

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Mar 21, 2011, 01:29 ET

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

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Iowa 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 Iowa, tobacco use claims 4,400 lives and costs $1.01 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 18.9 percent of the state's high school students smoke, and 15,000 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 Iowa include (all events are on March 23 unless otherwise noted):

Students at Van Buren High School in Keosauqua will clean up cigarette butts on the school's campus and will compare the amount of butts collected to previous years to see if the school has made progress in discouraging smoking and littering. Time: 2 PM. Location: 503 Henry Street, Keosauqua. Contact: Melissa Daugherty (319) 293-3171.

On March 22, students at Harmony High School in Farmington will tie red ribbons on the trees outside of the school to represent the number of people who die each day from tobacco and tobacco related diseases. Time: 1 PM. Location: 33727 Route J40, Farmington. Contact: Melissa Daugherty (319) 293-3171.

Students at Coon Rapids-Bayard Junior Senior High School in Coon Rapids will have a contest to determine who has the best "ugly face" reaction to learning the harmful and dangerous ingredients found in cigarettes. Time: 10 AM. Location: 905 North Street, Coon Rapids. Time: Paula Davis (712) 999-2208.

Tobacco prevention staff from the Southern Iowa Economic Development Association in Centerville will create a pledge wall at Howard Junior High School for students to sign to pledge to not use tobacco. 11:30 AM. 850 S Park Avenue, Centerville. Contact: Lisa Bachman (641) 799-8509.

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