WASHINGTON, March 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids in Missouri will unite against tobacco use on March 20 as they join thousands of young people nationwide to mark Kick Butts Day, an annual day of youth activism sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. More than 1,000 events are planned across the United States (see below for a list of local events).
This year, kids are focused on kicking Juul, the e-cigarette that has become enormously popular among youth across the country.
While cigarette smoking among high school students nationwide has fallen to 8.1 percent, e-cigarette use among high schoolers rose by an alarming 78 percent in 2018 alone – to 20.8 percent of the student population. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes. U.S. public health leaders have called youth e-cigarette use an "epidemic" that is addicting a new generation of kids.
In Missouri, 10.9 percent of high school students use e-cigarettes, while 9.2 percent smoke cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 11,000 lives in Missouri and costs the state over $3 billion in health care bills each year.
On Kick Butts Day, youth and health advocates are calling for strong action to reverse the youth e-cigarette epidemic. In particular, they are calling on the Food and Drug Administration, states and cities to ban all flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes in flavors like cotton candy, gummy bear and mango that tempt kids. Other effective strategies to reduce youth tobacco use include laws raising the tobacco sale age to 21, significant tobacco tax increases, comprehensive smoke-free laws and well-funded tobacco prevention programs.
"This year on Kick Butts Day, we're challenging policy makers at every level to do their part to reverse the youth e-cigarette epidemic and continue driving down youth tobacco use," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We cannot allow e-cigarettes, especially Juul, to addict another generation and reverse the enormous progress we've made in reducing youth tobacco use."
Key facts about e-cigarettes include:
- The main cause of the youth e-cigarette epidemic is Juul, which looks like a computer flash drive, is small and easy to hide, delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, and comes in kid-friendly flavors like mango, fruit and mint. According to the manufacturer, each Juul "pod" (cartridge) delivers as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes.
- E-cigarettes pose serious health risks for kids. The U.S. Surgeon General has found that youth use of nicotine in any form – including e-cigarettes – is unsafe, causes addiction and can harm the developing adolescent brain, affecting learning, memory and attention. Studies also show that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to become cigarette smokers.
On Kick Butts Day, youth join in creative events including signing pledges to be tobacco-free, learning about the harmful chemicals in tobacco products and organizing rallies at state capitols.
In Missouri, activities include:
Elementary and high school students at Meadow Heights School in Patton will partner with the Bollinger County Health Department to celebrate Kick Butts Day with an interactive health fair to learn about the dangerous health impacts of tobacco use through booth exhibits and educational displays. Time: 9:30 AM. Location: RR 5, Box 2365, Patton. Contact: Wendy Golden (573) 866-2924.
Students from Montgomery County Middle School in Montgomery City will celebrate Kick Butts Day with a schoolwide day of activities to learn about tobacco statistics, including a "Breathe Easy" exercise where students will breathe through straws to understand tobacco's negative effect on lungs. Students and teachers will encourage each other to #BeTheFirst tobacco-free generation by signing a pledge wall. Time: 3:25 PM. Location: 418 N. Highway 19, Montgomery City. Contact: Jan Hankinson (573) 999-2139.
Students at Kennett High School in Kennett will dress as "walking billboards" to educate their peers and staff about the dangerous effects of e-cigarettes and Juul. "Smokebuster Tribe" members will be wearing t-shirts with tobacco facts throughout the day. Time: 11:30 AM. Location: 1400 West Washington Street, Kennett. Contact: Jane Cook (573) 888-7474.
All events will take place March 20 unless otherwise indicated. For a full list of Kick Butts Day activities in Missouri, 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
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