The Cancer Action Network of the American Cancer Society recently released a report, Staying Well: Real Stories from the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The report includes a feature on the Maine Tobacco HelpLine and the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine on pages 20-21.
Young tobacco prevention activists from Maine and throughout the United States are participating in a youth leadership training in Washington, DC, this week and meeting with members of Congress to urge them to support strong policies to reduce tobacco use.
In particular, the youth are calling attention to the marketing of cheap, sweet-flavored cigars that appeal to kids. Nearly 30 youth from across the country are participating in the training, which is organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and includes skill-building workshops on leadership, advocacy and communications.
In Maine, tobacco use kills 2,200 residents and costs the state $602 million in health care bills each year, and 15.2 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes.
For more information, visit http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/
