MEDIA ADVISORY: Youth advocates participating in smoke-free generation event at the Capitol

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, May 3, concerned citizens and youth advocates from across the state will converge on the State Capitol to ask state legislators to commit to policies that protect Minnesota youth from tobacco. The Day at the Capitol is organized by Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation, a coalition made up of Minnesota's leading health organizations that share a common goal of reducing youth tobacco use.

Students and other advocates will start their day at the Minnesota History Center where they will hear from Senator Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato) and former Representative Ann Lenczewski, among others. Students will also learn about the political process and speak with their hometown legislators in the afternoon about pressing tobacco prevention issues.

Minnesotans agree more needs to be done to keep kids from a lifetime of tobacco addiction and disease. The best way to prevent youth from using tobacco products is to keep them from starting in the first place.

Important issues include regulating the sale of flavored tobacco products, raising the tobacco purchase age to 21, increasing funding for tobacco control and preventing tax breaks for Big Tobacco.

About Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation is a coalition of Minnesota's leading health and other interested organizations. We share a common goal of saving Minnesota youth from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco. Each year in Minnesota, tobacco use is responsible for more than 5,100 deaths and almost $3 billion in preventable health care costs — and 90 percent of adult smokers started before the age of 18. Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation supports policies that reduce youth smoking and help end the death and disease associated with tobacco use.

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation partners include: A Healthier Southwest; African American Leadership Forum; Allina Health; American Cancer Society - Cancer Action Network; American Heart Association; American Lung Association in Minnesota; Apple Tree Dental; Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota; CentraCare Health; Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota; ClearWay Minnesota; Essentia Health; Four Corners Partnership; Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare; HealthEast; HealthPartners; Hennepin County Medical Center; LAAMPP Institute; Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative; Local Public Health Association of Minnesota; Mayo Clinic; Medica; Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians; Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers; Minnesota Cancer Alliance; MN Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Minnesota Council of Health Plans; Minnesota Hospital Association; Minnesota Medical Association; Minnesota Oral Health Coalition; Minnesota Public Health Association; Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc.; North Memorial Health Care; NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center; PartnerSHIP 4 Health; SEIU Healthcare Minnesota; and Twin Cities Medical Society. Find out more at: smokefreegenmn.org.

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SOURCE Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

Related Links

http://smokefreegenmn.org