Maryland Kids 'Kick Butts' on March 21

State Leaders Urged to Support Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

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Mar 19, 2012, 11:27 ET

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids in Maryland 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 Maryland, health advocates are working to increase tobacco taxes and increase funding for tobacco prevention programs.

"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. Elected officials across the nation should support these proven solutions, including higher tobacco taxes, strong smoke-free laws and well-funded tobacco prevention 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 Maryland, tobacco use claims 6,800 lives and costs $1.96 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 14.1 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 Maryland include (all events are on March 21 unless otherwise noted):

Frederick County 4-H members and Frederick City Police Activities Youth League members in Frederick, along with Frederick Memorial Hospital's tobacco educators and Frederick Police Officers, will clean up cigarette butts at the City of Frederick Hospital Park. After the clean-up, tobacco educators will provide a lesson on the dangers of smoking. Time: 5 PM. Location: 400 West 7th Street, Frederick. Contact: Shanna Figgins (240)-566-3433.

The Talbot County Health Department's tobacco cessation program along with the St. Michaels Site of Critchlow Adkins Children's Centers in St. Michaels will sponsor a T-shirt design contest. Over 50 students will wear the T-shirts during a march through town to educate pre-teens and teens about the dangers of tobacco use. Time: 3 PM. Location: 100 Seymour Avenue, St. Michaels. Contact: Marlene Thomas (410) 745-5842.

On March 29, the Drug Free Communities Coalition in conjunction with Garrett College in McHenry will host "Kick Smoking, ASAP." The day will consist of a display with cigarette butts a recent clean-up and a booth which will educate students about the benefits of not smoking. Time: 11 AM. Location: 687 Mosser Road, McHenry. Contact: Sandy Miller (304) 813-0485.

On April 11, public service announcements will air on the daily school wide TV show at Windsor Mill Middle School in Baltimore. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) will feature the announcements to encourage students to be tobacco-free. Time: 9:15 AM. Location: 8300 Windsor Mill Road, Baltimore. Contact: Robin Cothorne (410) 887-0624.

For a full list of Kick Butts Day events in Maryland, 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