Oklahoma Kids 'Kick Butts' on March 21

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Mar 19, 2012, 12:11 ET

State Leaders Urged to Support Tobacco Prevention Initiatives

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kids in Oklahoma 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.

In Oklahoma, health advocates are fighting to allow local governments to pass strong smoke-free air laws.

"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 Oklahoma, tobacco use claims 6,200 lives and costs $1.2 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 20.2 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 Oklahoma include (all events are on March 21 unless otherwise noted):

Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) in Comanche County will hold the first annual "Defying Deception" 3 on 3 basketball tournament at the Cameron University Fitness Center in Lawton. During the tournament SWAT youth will expose deceptive practices used by the tobacco industry. Time: 10 AM. Location: 2800 W. Gore Boulevard, Lawton. Contact: Sandy Foster (580) 585-5406.

At the Altus Community Center on March 29, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) groups from each school in Altus will have displays representing the 16 people in Oklahoma that die each day from tobacco-related causes. Jackson County Memorial Hospital will also conduct free health screenings. Time: 3:30 PM. Location: 401 Falcon Road, Altus. Contact: Kendra Whitaker (580) 482-7308.

On March 29, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) members in Carter County will host the fifth annual 3 on 3 basketball tournament in Lone Grove. The county wide tournament brings all the local communities together to take a stand against tobacco and in support of tobacco-free school campuses. Time: 4 PM. Location: 6286 Meridian Road, Lone Grove. Contact: Sally Mitchell (580) 220-7561.

On March 30, the Fairview Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) and Major County Coalition members in Fairview will go to the city Court House to pick up cigarette butts and educate students about the harmful effects of tobacco. Time: 1 PM. Location: Court House Yard, 500 E. Broadway, Fairview. Contact: Yolanda Creswell (580) 327-2900).

For a full list of Kick Butts Day events in Oklahoma, 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