The 39th annual Great American Smokeout, which will take place on Nov. 20, encourages everyone to lead tobacco-free lives to prevent tobacco-related diseases and improve overall health and quality of life. The event is traditionally aimed at getting smokers to quit, but Bismarck Burleigh Public Health and the North Dakota Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy (the Center) are using the opportunity to educate about the best ways to prevent tobacco use amongst our kids, with the help of the individuals who know them best, the youth themselves.
According to the 2014 Surgeon General’s Report, “Advertising and promotional activities by the tobacco companies cause the onset and continuation of smoking among adolescents and young adults.” Tobacco companies frequently use brightly-colored packaging and fruit-flavored tobacco products that look and taste like candy to entice kids to try tobacco. This is commonly found within the expanding product market of electronic cigarettes or vape pens.
“It is more important than ever to have youth help educate their peers, because the number of fruit and candy-flavored tobacco products have skyrocketed in recent years and specifically because they are the ones being marketed to,” said Jordyn Geisenhof, Tobacco Prevention Specialist. “That’s why we focus on prevention education, especially at a young age. We want our kids to be smarter than the tobacco companies’ marketing ploys.”
Several schools in the Bismarck area will be taking part in the Great American Smokeout by having students participate in different activisms throughout the day to educate their peers on the dangers of e-cigarettes, the importance of raising the price of tobacco products and the positive effects it can have on our community.
To learn more about tobacco prevention contact Bismarck Burleigh Public Health at 355-1595 or visit. www.breathend.com
For more information about quitting call 1-800-QUIT.NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.ndhealth.gov/ndquits.