Maryland Kids to 'Kick Butts' on March 18

State Leaders Urged to Support Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

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Mar 13, 2015, 12:05 ET

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Maryland will stand up to Big Tobacco on March 18 and the days before and later as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 20^th annual Kick Butts Day. More than 1,000 events are planned nationwide for this 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 stay tobacco-free, demand that tobacco companies stop marketing deadly, addictive products to them and encourage elected officials to do more to reduce youth tobacco use.

This year, Kick Butts Day is focusing attention on how the tobacco industry still spends huge sums on marketing and is adopting new strategies to reach young customers. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $8.8 billion a year – one million dollars every hour – to market tobacco products. In Maryland, tobacco companies spend $120.2 million annually on marketing efforts. The industry's tactics that entice kids include:

Splashy ads in magazines with large youth readership, such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine and Rolling Stone.
Widespread advertising and price discounts in stores, which make tobacco products appealing and affordable to kids.
New, sweet-flavored tobacco products such as small cigars and electronic cigarettes. The latest surveys show that youth use of e-cigarettes has skyrocketed.

In addition to organizing events, kids are standing up to the tobacco industry on social media through the #NotAReplacement selfie campaign. The tobacco industry's own documents reveal that they have long targeted kids as "replacement smokers" for the more than 480,000 people their products kill each year in the United States. Kids are taking selfies to say they're not a replacement and sharing the photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the #NotAReplacement hashtag. (view the #NotAReplacement selfie gallery)

"On Kick Butts Day, kids stand up and reject Big Tobacco's manipulative marketing," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We can make the next generation tobacco-free and end the tobacco epidemic for good. Elected officials can help reach that goal by standing with kids and supporting proven strategies to prevent youth tobacco use, including higher tobacco taxes, strong smoke-free laws and prevention programs."

In Maryland, tobacco use claims 7,500 lives and costs $2.71 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 11.9 percent of Maryland's high school students smoke.

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

In Maryland, activities include:

On March 17, youth from the Fort Meade Team Center and the Keystone Club will gather at the Fort Meade commissary to sign a banner proclaiming their commitment to remaining tobacco-free. Time: 4 PM. Location: 2786 MacArthur Road, Fort Meade. Contact: Talissa McMullen, (347) 362-7281.

On March 18 the Boys & Girls Club in Williamsport is teaming up with the Tobacco Free Coalition in Washington County to celebrate Kick Butts Day. Youth will hear from a guest speaker about the dangers of tobacco use and participate in a number of other fun and educational activities. Time: 4 PM. Location: 2 Park Road, Williamsport. Contact: Phillip Powell (240) 439-9825.

On March 18 students from St. Michael's Elementary School will march through town with anti-tobacco posters and banners, joined by a costumed "Ciggy Butts" mascot. Time: 3 PM. Location: St. Michael's Elementary School, 100 Seymour Avenue, St. Michael's. Contact: Marlene Thomas (410) 745-5842.

On March 26, The Country School in Easton is taking a stand against tobacco. Students will make posters describing the health risks associated with smoking and the harmful effects of cigarette butts on the environment, as well as write letters to their local legislators asking for more stringent smoking laws in the community. Time: 8:30 AM. Location: 716 Goldsborough Street, Easton. Contact: Barry Cox (410) 726-1758.

On March 28, the Howard County NAACP Youth Council and the Black Student Achievement Program will host a public anti-tobacco rally in Jessup where attendees can advocate for change and learn about youth-targeted tobacco advertising and the dangers of smoking. Time: 1 PM. Location: Ridgely's Run Community Center, 8400 Mission Road, Jessup. Contact: Mia Robinson (443) 615-9972.

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

CONTACTS:
Brianna Gavio, 202-745-5064
Mina Radman, 202-296-5469

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SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids