Massachusetts Kids to 'Kick Butts' on March 15

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts, tobacco companies spend $123.6 million annually on marketing efforts.

In Massachusetts, health advocates are urging the Legislature to pass several bills to fight tobacco use among youth. These bills would raise the tobacco sale age to 21, require tobacco-free pharmacies and add e-cigarettes to the statewide smoke-free workplace law.

"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 Massachusetts, tobacco use claims 9,300 lives and costs $4.08 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 7.7 percent of Massachusetts'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 Massachusetts, activities include:

More than 200 youth members of the 84 Movement will gather with the 84 Statewide Leadership Team for a march through Boston Common to the Massachusetts State House, where they will meet with legislators to share their perspectives on youth tobacco use. Time: 8:30 AM. Location: The Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston. Contact: Joan Rubel (413) 884-4804.

Sixth grade students from Westhampton Elementary School will play tobacco Jeopardy with seventh grade students at Hampshire Regional Middle and High School to spread knowledge about the dangers of tobacco products. Time: 10 AM.  Location: 19 Stage Road, Westhampton.  Contact: Mary Phelan (413) 437-5577.

All events are on March 15 unless otherwise indicated. For a full list of Kick Butts Day activities in Massachusetts, 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