Montana Kids to 'Kick Butts' on March 16
State Leaders Urged to Make the Next Generation Tobacco-Free
State Leaders Urged to Make the Next Generation Tobacco-Free
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Montana will stand up to Big Tobacco on March 16 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for 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 demand that tobacco companies stop marketing deadly products to them and encourage elected officials to help reduce youth tobacco use.
This year, Kick Butts Day is focusing attention on the outrageous marketing tactics tobacco companies still use to target youth. These tactics include:
Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.6 billion a year – over one million dollars every hour – to market tobacco products. In Montana, tobacco companies spend $30.5 million annually on marketing efforts.
"On Kick Butts Day, kids stand up to the tobacco industry and all of us, especially our elected officials, should stand with them," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We've made amazing progress in reducing youth smoking and can make the next generation tobacco-free. Elected officials in every state should help reach that goal by supporting proven strategies to prevent youth tobacco use, including higher tobacco taxes, strong smoke-free laws, prevention programs and raising the tobacco age to 21."
In Montana, tobacco use claims 1,600 lives and costs $440 million in health care bills each year. Currently, 13.1 percent of Montana'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 Montana, activities include:
The Dawson County Health Department and students from the Washington Middle School TIP/reACT will encourage morning commuters to honk and wave to show support for tobacco prevention. "Mo the Moose" and "Ciggy Butts" will be in attendance, holding signs that explain the dangers of tobacco. Time: 7:30 AM. Location: 302 West Towne Street, Glendive. Contact: Laureen Murphee 406-855-6311.
The Boys and Girls Club of Dawson County will participate in a community clean up of cigarette butts in Glendive. Groups who collect the most butts will receive a prize. Time: 3:30 PM. Location: 111 West Bell Street, Glendive. Contact: Tina Carter (406) 939-4569.
Fifth and sixth graders at the Dixon School will lead their peers in activities and discussions about smoking habits, addiction, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, nicotine, physical effects of smoking, and how tobacco companies target youth. Time: 1 PM. Location: 411 B Street, Dixon. Contact: Sandra Gubel (406) 291-4901.
Students at Superior Elementary School will hold a flash mob during lunchtime to educate other students how big tobacco companies target kids. Time: 11:15 AM. Location: 1208 6th Avenue, Superior. Contact: Barb Jasper (406) 822-3564.
On March 18, reACT! Against Corporate Tobacco will host a smoke-free movie night at the Pizza CO Banquet Room for sixth through twelfth graders to learn how tobacco companies plan smoking scenes in movies. The group will write letters to production companies, urging that smoking in a movie should require an R rating. Time: 6 PM. Location: 115 South Broadway Avenue, Red Lodge. Contact: Jean Atherly (406) 860-3825.
All events are on March 16 unless otherwise indicated. For a full list of Kick Butts Day activities in Montana, visit www.kickbuttsday.org/map. Additional information about tobacco, including state-by-state statistics, can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080918/CFTFKLOGO
SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Share this article