Youth Leaders and Health Advocates Encouraged to Support Kick Butts Day March 20
Friday, March 15, 2019
For Release – March 15, 2019 – Jamie Dukes, Office of Communications – (405) 271-5601
Tobacco use continues to be the number one preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, yet almost 2,000 youth try their first cigarette each day and the skyrocketing use of e-cigarettes among youth is putting an entire generation at risk of nicotine dependence. On March 20, youth and health advocates nationwide will stand up and speak out against tobacco, in recognition of “Kick Butts Day 2019”. Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out and speak up against Big Tobacco.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is encouraging all Oklahoma teachers, students, youth leaders and health advocates to organize events and to stand up and support “Kick Butts Day” in Oklahoma throughout March. As we continue to strive to prevent more youth from accessing and using tobacco products, Oklahoma’s youth are leading the way toward the first tobacco-free generation by educating their communities on the toll of tobacco and promoting public policies proven to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
“Kick Butts Day is a great time to highlight the importance of youth voices and contributions to where we live, work, learn and play,” said OSDH Tobacco Use Prevention Program Coordinator Chantel Hartman. “Oklahoma’s youth continue to be recognized for their commitment to supporting effective solutions to reduce tobacco use and we want to recognize their hard work toward tobacco-free environments.”
Several examples of Oklahoma’s youth raising awareness about the toll of tobacco, encouraging Oklahomans to be tobacco-free, and supporting effective solutions to reduce tobacco use were submitted to OSDH and will be highlighted on the agency’s Facebook page. If you would like to highlight Kick Butts Day activities or extraordinary youth-led tobacco prevention work in your community, please visit KickButtsDay.org or contact the OSDH Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
For more information about the dangers of early nicotine exposure and youth e-cigarette use, benefits of tobacco-free environments, or tobacco cessation resources, please contact the OSDH Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at (405) 271-3619 or the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline at okhelpline.com.
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Last Modified on
Jun 03, 2022
