On March 18, youth across the country are encouraged to stand up against tobacco companies on the twentieth annual Kick Butts Day. Tobacco companies continue to find new ways to market to youth, despite promises made in the 1998 tobacco settlement to stop the practice, and Kick Butts Day is a national day for youth to speak against that corrupt practice.
Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health and the North Dakota Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy (the Center) are using the occasion to educate youth about big tobacco’s slick marketing.
One of big tobacco’s recent strategies is promoting electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to youth. Currently, there is no federal regulation in place that prevents minors from purchasing e-cigarettes in the United States, but 41 states have chosen to taken action by passing youth access laws that prohibit selling these devices to minors. In North Dakota, there is no state law in place, but 23 cities have passed ordinances in an effort to keep these products out of the hands of minors.
Tobacco companies exploit the lack of restrictions and develop fruit- and candy-flavored e-cigarettes that directly appeal to youth. A recent nationwide study, “Monitoring the Future,” shows the need for immediate action. Young people are taking up e-cigarettes at an alarming rate and e-cigarette use rates have now surpassed the use of conventional cigarettes. The report states that eighth and tenth graders are using e-cigarettes at twice the rate of regular cigarettes.
“Even though some cities have taken steps to prevent e-cigarette sales to minors, we need to make sure e-cigarettes are properly regulated at the state level so we are doing everything we can to protect our children from a lifetime of tobacco use,” said Jordyn Geisenhof, Tobacco Prevention Specialist with Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health .
“We’re looking forward to our Kick Butts Day activities because these events are a great way to get the community involved in preventing tobacco use,” said Geisenhof. “We are empowering youth to take a stand against big tobacco.”
To learn about Kick Butts Day programs taking place in your community, contact Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health at 701-355-1595 or go to www.breathend.com to learn more about tobacco prevention.