Press
Stoughton Youth Participate in Annual Kick Butts Day Event at the State House
Mar 23, 2011
Stoughton Patch
March 23, 2011
STOUGHTON - Youth from Student’s Against Destructive Decisions a program of Stoughton High School in Stoughton participated in the 2011 Kick Butts Day Event held at the Massachusetts State House on March 23rd.
Student’s Against Destructive Decisions is part of The 84 Movement which helps mobilize youth to take action to protect their communities from the influence of the tobacco industry. In addition to curbing youth tobacco use, this year’s Kick Butts Day activities focused on the underhanded tactics that the tobacco industry uses to target youth. The event also celebrated the work being done across Massachusetts to limit youth access to tobacco products. During the event, youth highlighted the increasing number of cheap, youth-friendly “other tobacco products,” such as candy flavored dissolvable tobacco, that are found in their communities.
“It is important for us to raise awareness among adults that youth are still being targeted by the tobacco industry,” stated Becky Oh, statewide planning committee member for The 84. “As more and more adults become aware of the new and cheap products that are being marketed toward us, the easier it is for us to work together to fight the dangerous influence of the tobacco industry in our communities.”
The youth from Student’s Against Destructive Decisions joined over 250 of their peers from across the state in Boston and began their day with a youth-led program and training. Following the training, they marched to the State House to meet with elected officials and attended an event with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, John Auerbach, State Senator Fargo, and State Representatives Garballey and Sannicandro. At the event, Commissioner Auerbach presented information detailing the youth-friendly pricing, packaging, and availability strategies that the tobacco industry uses to make their products accessible to youth.
During the event at the State House, Melanie McFayden of Stoughton presented information on underhanded tobacco industry tactics.
Immediately prior to the event, Student’s Against Destructive Decisions presented a poster to legislators that documented their research around the influence of Big Tobacco in their community. This group was among ten that were selected to highlight and celebrate their tobacco prevention work.
Kick Butts Day is a national initiative, organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, to empower youth and celebrate the work that they do to take action against tobacco use and to raise awareness that Big Tobacco targets youth.
The84 Movement is managed by Health Resources in Action and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program. For more information on The 84 Movement, and the work being done throughout the Commonwealth to make smoking history, visit www.The84.org and www.makesmokinghistory.org.
About The 84 Movement
The 84 Movement, representing the 84% of youth in MA that do not smoke, is managed by Health Resources in Action and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program. Youth in The 84 Movement make a difference by educating others about the dangers of tobacco, working to change laws to limit youth access to tobacco, and raise awareness that most youth do not smoke.
http://stoughton.patch.com/announcements/stoughton-youth-participate-in-...
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Stoughton Patch
March 23, 2011
STOUGHTON - Youth from Student’s Against Destructive Decisions a program of Stoughton High School in Stoughton participated in the 2011 Kick Butts Day Event held at the Massachusetts State House on March 23rd.
Student’s Against Destructive Decisions is part of The 84 Movement which helps mobilize youth to take action to protect their communities from the influence of the tobacco industry. In addition to curbing youth tobacco use, this year’s Kick Butts Day activities focused on the underhanded tactics that the tobacco industry uses to target youth. The event also celebrated the work being done across Massachusetts to limit youth access to tobacco products. During the event, youth highlighted the increasing number of cheap, youth-friendly “other tobacco products,” such as candy flavored dissolvable tobacco, that are found in their communities.
“It is important for us to raise awareness among adults that youth are still being targeted by the tobacco industry,” stated Becky Oh, statewide planning committee member for The 84. “As more and more adults become aware of the new and cheap products that are being marketed toward us, the easier it is for us to work together to fight the dangerous influence of the tobacco industry in our communities.”
The youth from Student’s Against Destructive Decisions joined over 250 of their peers from across the state in Boston and began their day with a youth-led program and training. Following the training, they marched to the State House to meet with elected officials and attended an event with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, John Auerbach, State Senator Fargo, and State Representatives Garballey and Sannicandro. At the event, Commissioner Auerbach presented information detailing the youth-friendly pricing, packaging, and availability strategies that the tobacco industry uses to make their products accessible to youth.
During the event at the State House, Melanie McFayden of Stoughton presented information on underhanded tobacco industry tactics.
Immediately prior to the event, Student’s Against Destructive Decisions presented a poster to legislators that documented their research around the influence of Big Tobacco in their community. This group was among ten that were selected to highlight and celebrate their tobacco prevention work.
Kick Butts Day is a national initiative, organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, to empower youth and celebrate the work that they do to take action against tobacco use and to raise awareness that Big Tobacco targets youth.
The84 Movement is managed by Health Resources in Action and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program. For more information on The 84 Movement, and the work being done throughout the Commonwealth to make smoking history, visit www.The84.org and www.makesmokinghistory.org.
About The 84 Movement
The 84 Movement, representing the 84% of youth in MA that do not smoke, is managed by Health Resources in Action and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program. Youth in The 84 Movement make a difference by educating others about the dangers of tobacco, working to change laws to limit youth access to tobacco, and raise awareness that most youth do not smoke.
http://stoughton.patch.com/announcements/stoughton-youth-participate-in-...
