Louisiana Kids to 'Kick Butts' on March 15

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Louisiana will unite against tobacco use on March 15 as they join thousands of young people nationwide to mark Kick Butts Day. More than 1,000 events are planned across the United States and around the world for this annual day of youth activism, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (See below for a list of local events.)

On Kick Butts Day, kids encourage their peers to be tobacco-free, reject tobacco companies' devious marketing and urge elected officials to help make the next generation tobacco-free.

This year, Kick Butts Day is focusing attention on how tobacco companies are enticing kids with a growing market of sweet-flavored products such as electronic cigarettes and cigars, threatening to addict a new generation. These products have proved popular with kids. From 2011 to 2015, e-cigarette use among high school students jumped from 1.5 percent to 16 percent nationwide, and more kids now use e-cigarettes than regular cigarettes. In addition, more high school boys now smoke cigars than cigarettes. E-cigarettes and cigars are sold in a wide assortment of candy and fruit flavors, such as gummy bear, cotton candy and fruit punch.

Tobacco companies also continue to spend huge sums to market cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, much of it reaching kids. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.1 billion a year – one million dollars every hour – on marketing. In Louisiana, tobacco companies spend $205.1 million annually on marketing efforts.

In Louisiana, health advocates are urging East Baton Rouge Parish to adopt a comprehensive smoke-free law, protecting everyone's right to breathe clean air in the city's restaurants, bars and casinos.

"On Kick Butts Day, kids stand up to the tobacco industry, and our nation's leaders must stand with them," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We've made great strides in reducing youth smoking, but candy-flavored products like e-cigarettes and cigars threaten this progress. We need strong FDA regulation to protect kids from these sweet-flavored products. And elected officials at all levels should support proven strategies that prevent youth tobacco use, including higher tobacco taxes, strong smoke-free laws, funding prevention programs and raising the tobacco age to 21."

In Louisiana, tobacco use claims 7,200 lives and costs $1.89 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 12.1 percent of Louisiana's high school students smoke.

On Kick Butts Day, kids join in creative events that range from classroom activities about the harmful ingredients in cigarettes to rallies at state capitols.

In Louisiana, activities include:

Students at Joseph Craig Charter School will perform skits sponsored by the Rho Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to encourage family members to stop smoking and to warn fellow students about the dangers of tobacco use. Time: 10:30 AM. Location: 1423 St. Phillip Street, Kenner. Contact: Marion Floyd (504) 952-4006.

The DEFY Youth Team will host a kick butts pledge wall event at Lock Park in Charles. They will serve food and hand out educational materials about the effects of smoking. Time: 4:30 PM. Location: 1535 Ryan Street, Lake Charles. Contact: Anita Barker (337) 302-3725.

On March 31, students at Franklinton Senior High School will attend a spring fest featuring anti-tobacco visual displays designed by the Washington Parish Youth Coalition. The event is sponsored by the Drug Free Communities and the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Time: 9 AM. Location: 1 Demon Circle, Franklinton. Contact: Gail Brigham (985) 414-2087.

All events are on March 15 unless otherwise indicated. For a full list of Kick Butts Day activities in Louisiana, visit www.kickbuttsday.org/map. Additional information about tobacco, including state-by-state statistics, can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Related Links

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org