TOBACCO-FREE SCHOOLS MEAN TOBACCO-FREE STUDENTS: Students, Superintendents, Advocates Launch Tobacco
The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow has made a statewide tobacco-free schools bill its highest priority because the bill would reduce youth tobacco use. In just the last year, "juuling"
and other e-cigarette use by adolescents and teens has skyrocketed, erasing years of progress in youth tobacco use reduction. Teens, superintendents, and health advocates will rally in the Capitol Rotunda to launch a campaign urging legislators to pass HB11 and SB27, which would prohibit use of any tobacco product by all persons at all times on or in school property in Kentucky.
WHAT
Rally, News Conference to Launch Tobacco-Free Schools Campaign
WHO
Ben Chandler, Chair Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow and President/CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky Rep. Kim Moser, Taylor Mill, sponsor of HB 11 Sen. Ralph Alvarado, Winchester, sponsor of SB 27 Robb Smith, Superintendent, Bellevue Independent Schools, Bellevue Meagan Perry, 9th Grade, Monroe County High School CARES team, Tompkinsville Noble Steenbergen, 12th Grade, Monroe County High School CARES team, Tompkinsville Jake Patty, 12th Grade, Mayfield High School Drug-Free Club, Mayfield
WHERE
Tuesday, January 22, 10 a.m.
WHEN
Capitol Rotunda, Frankfort
Note to Editors and Reporters: The students and other members of the audience will have rally signs; colorful poster boards that will share information about teen perceptions of e-cigarettes and teen tobacco use; an enlarged map will show the 42 percent of Kentucky school districts that currently have tobacco-free policies.
About the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow is committed to its mission of improving Kentucky's health by protecting Kentuckians from secondhand smoke and other tobacco emissions, and by reducing the high rate of smoking and tobacco use in the Commonwealth. For more information, please visit www.smokefreetomorrow.org. The Coalition is led by representatives of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Baptist Health, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Humana, Kentucky Cancer Foundation, Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky Council of Churches, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Kentucky Health Collaborative, Kentucky Health Departments Association, Kentucky Hospital Association, Kentucky Medical Association, Kentucky Nurses Association, Kentucky School Boards Association, Kentucky Voices for Health, and Kentucky Youth Advocates. Other partners and members of the Coalition represent a broad array of more than 180 groups, including Kentucky business leaders, health advocates, health care providers and payers, educators, and faith community leaders. Media Contacts: Bonnie J. Hackbarth bhackbarth@healthy-ky.org 877-326-2583 (Office) 502-552-3770 (Mobile) Alexa Kerley akerley@healthy-ky.org 877-326-2583 (Office) 859-229-9611 (Mobile) [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]