Michigan Kids Will 'Kick Butts' on Wednesday, March 20

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Mar 15, 2013, 01:17 ET

State Leaders Urged to Support Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Michigan will stand up against tobacco on March 20 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 18^th annual Kick Butts Day. More than 1,200 events are planned across the United States. (See below for a list of local events.)

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Organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and sponsored by 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. They will also educate their communities about the dangers of tobacco and the tobacco industry's harmful marketing practices.

This year on Kick Butts Day, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is highlighting the tobacco industry's products and marketing that entice kids to use tobacco. According to the Federal Trade Commission, tobacco companies spend $8.5 billion a year – nearly $1 million each hour – to market cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. This marketing has an impact on kids:

While the U.S. has greatly reduced youth smoking, 18.1 percent of high school students still smoke, and nearly 1,000 kids become regular smokers each day. Among youth smokers, 86 percent prefer Marlboro, Newport and Camel, which are the three most heavily advertised cigarette brands, according to the government's National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Tobacco companies have also introduced new products that appeal to kids, including cheap, sweet, colorfully-packaged small cigars that look just like cigarettes. Many cigars come in fruit and candy flavors such as strawberry, vanilla, peach and apple.
In a 2012 report, the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that tobacco marketing causes kids to start and continue using tobacco products.

"On Kick Butts Day, kids will stand up and reject Big Tobacco's manipulative marketing," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "It's also a chance for elected leaders to commit to protecting kids from tobacco through policies such as tobacco taxes, smoke-free laws and prevention programs. We hope that legislators will listen to their young constituents and implement these proven solutions to reduce tobacco use and save lives."

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.

In Michigan, tobacco use claims 14,500 lives and costs $3.4 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 14 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 Michigan include:

Eighth graders at Tecumseh Middle School will participate in a series of educational and physical activities to show the kids the downsides of being a smoker. Local guest speakers will talk about the dangers of tobacco, and students will write about people in their lives touched by tobacco on a memorial wall in the cafeteria. Location: 307 N. Maumee Street, Tecumseh. Contact: Cindy Hook, (517) 423-1105.
The Youth Engaged in Prevention Group at Jonesville High and Middle School will put up a graffiti wall and educational displays promoting tobacco-free living and emphasizing the dangers of popular products like chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes. Location: 460 Adrian Street, Jonesville. Contact: Kelley Mapes (517) 279-9561 x 103.
On March 16, the KnowSmoke Coalition youth advisory group from Muskegon High School will host a display booth to show attendees the ingredients in a cigarette during "The Ride," a cardiovascular awareness bike race. Time: 12 PM. Location: The Lakes Mall, 5600 Harvey Street, Muskegon. Contact: Amy Forward (231) 343-8825.
Students from the Most Teens Don't campaign at nine Jackson County schools will display the contents of a cigarette and place 40 black flags outside each school to represent the number of people who die in Michigan each day from tobacco smoke. Contact: Wendy Murdock (517) 945-1589.
On March 21, the Midland Cancer Services and the Tobacco Reduction Coalition will organize a choreographed flash mob at the Great Lake Loons baseball stadium. Time: 3 PM. Location: Dow Diamond Great Lakes Loons Stadium, 825 East Main Street, Midland. Contact: Michelle Walker (989) 400-6712.

(Note: events are on March 20 unless otherwise indicated.)

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