New Jersey Kids 'Kick Butts' on March 21

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Mar 19, 2012, 11:50 ET

State Leaders Urged to Support Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in New Jersey will take center stage in the fight against tobacco on March 21 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 17th annual Kick Butts Day. More than 1,100 events are planned across the nation (for a list of local events see below).

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

This year, Kick Butts Day comes just after a new report by the U.S. Surgeon General found that while the nation has made tremendous progress in reducing youth smoking, youth tobacco use remains a "pediatric epidemic" that requires urgent action. The Surgeon General's report reached the following conclusions:

While the high school smoking rate has been cut nearly in half since the mid-1990s, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students still smoke.
In addition to long-term consequence such as cancer and heart disease, tobacco use immediately harms the health of youth and young adults. Smoking quickly causes nicotine addiction, cardiovascular damage, slower lung growth and shortness of breath.
Tobacco marketing causes kids to start and continue using tobacco products. Tobacco companies spend more than $10 billion a year – more than $1 million an hour – to advertise and promote their products.
Science and experience have identified proven strategies to reduce youth tobacco use. These include mass media campaigns, increasing the price of cigarettes through higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free policies and school and community prevention programs.

"Kids are sending two powerful messages on Kick Butts Day: They want the tobacco companies to stop targeting them, and they want elected leaders to protect them from tobacco," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We know how to win the fight against tobacco. Elected officials across the nation should support these proven solutions, including higher tobacco taxes, strong smoke-free laws and well-funded tobacco prevention programs."

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. Nationally, 19.5 percent of high school students still smoke, and another 1,000 kids become regular smokers every day.

In New Jersey, tobacco use claims 11,200 lives and costs $3.17 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 17 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 New Jersey include (all events are on March 21 unless otherwise noted):

The Student Coalition Against Tobacco (SCAT) in Ocean City will host a dinner at Ocean City High School featuring SCAT student speakers who will talk about the value of a tobacco-free life and the dangers of tobacco use. All attendees will have the opportunity to sign the "Human Toll of Tobacco" banner and write a memorial message for someone who has lost their life to a tobacco related disease. Time: 4:30 PM. Location: 501 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City. Contact: Tom Gahr (609) 335-2319.

Students from the Eisenhower Youth Safe Haven program in Irvington will present skits and raps about the harmful effects that tobacco has on individuals, families and the community. Time: 5 PM. Location: 787-811 Grove Street, Irvington. Contact: Jihadah Sharif (862) 216-8002.

Youth of South Hunterdon Regional High School in Lambertville will host a Kick Butts Day Carnival. Games and contests for students will include "Aim to be Tobacco-free," "Bowl Over Big Tobacco" and "Tobacco Jeopardy." Time: 11 AM. Location: 301 Mt. Airy Harbourton Road, Lambertville. Contact: Cindy Zidzik (609) 397-2060.

On March 22, Tobacco-Free for a Healthy New Jersey in Wall will host a Kick Butts Day event at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. Participants will learn about the dangers of second hand smoke and carbon monoxide. Organizers will offer lung function readings. Time: 10:30 AM. Location: 1427 Wyckoff Road, Wall. Contact: Donna Drummond (732) 690-3450.

On March 23, Clearview Middle School will have a week of in-class activities to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, culminating with a school-wide Kick Butts Day Skate Night at the Deptford Skating Center in Westville. Organizers will set up tables with tobacco education resources and encourage students to sign a pledge to be tobacco-free. Time: 5 PM. Location: 510 Deptford Avenue, Westville. Contact: Lisa Tiedeken (856) 304-0368.

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

About the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leading force in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States and around the world. Our vision is a future free of the death and disease caused by tobacco. We work to prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit and protect everyone from secondhand smoke. For more information, visit www.tobaccofreekids.org.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids