Tara Lipinski, N.Y.C. Health Commissioner, Tobacco Prevention Advocates Celebrate New Anti-Smoking Campaign
Contact: Brian Bernhardt, 202-289-5900, or Sandra Mullin, 212-788-5290, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids;
Web site: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org
NEW YORK, June 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Olympic Gold Medal winner and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids spokesperson Tara Lipinski today joined New York City Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D., and New York tobacco prevention advocates to recognize the New York City Department of Health's anti-smoking campaign, which will be announced this summer. Lipinski and advocates also urged Governor Pataki and members of the state legislature to dedicate a portion of the multi-state settlement funds to tobacco prevention programs.
"Each year in the state of New York, 87,000 young people become regular smokers," said Lipinski. "If used properly, these funds have the potential to dramatically reduce youth tobacco use and save lives."
New York City Health Commissioner Cohen said, "This anti-smoking program will emphasize using youth to reach youth. Kids know best what messages and approaches kids react to best. Getting kids to not start smoking is the best way to lower the terrible toll smoking takes on our health and well-being."
Lipinski also called on New York state lawmakers to commit state funding to tobacco prevention. "I urge the New York legislature and the Governor to ensure that a significant portion of the money they receive from the settlement with the tobacco industry is used for effective, comprehensive programs that reduce teen smoking," she said.
Lipinski cited comprehensive prevention programs in Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon and California that have been shown to reduce tobacco use. All of these programs engage youth to successfully get the attention of their peers. In Florida, after only one year of a comprehensive program, smoking among middle school students decreased by 19 percent and among high school students, it decreased 8 percent. In Massachusetts, the statewide program has resulted in a 30 percent decline in smoking in four years, with 100,000 fewer smokers.
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The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is the largest non-government initiative ever undertaken to decrease youth tobacco use in the United States. Its mandate is to focus the nation's attention and action on keeping tobacco marketing from seducing children, and making tobacco less accessible to kids. For more information on the Campaign and youth tobacco use, visit its Web site at www.tobaccofreekids.org.
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