The States Youth Leadership Initiative, Tobacco Control Youth Board, held a recognition luncheon at the First Missionary Baptist Church. The Youth board partnered with the Mississippi County Coaltion For A Tobacco Free Arkansas.
Alesia Brown of the Youth Board said, "This was the perfect chance to introduce to 2009-10 TCYB members from Mississippi County." Elroy Brown, Coalition Director, stated, "We had a good turnout; there was about 40 to 50 people in attendance. Couniclman R.L Jones, Couniclwoman Carol White and Qurom Court member Rev. Emmanual Lofton was in attendance."
Photo: The 2009-10 TCYB members were introduced to Mississippi County (left to right) Alesia Brown of Osceola, Miracle Swanigan of Blytheville, Kellye Brown of Blytheville. Not pictured Chloe Campbell of Gosnell
Elroy Brown Sr. of the Coalition and Councilwoman Carol White of Blytheville congratulates the new members.
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The RED RIBBON Story: Arkansas kids celebrate Drug Free Week
The YES Team shows up for RED RIBBON Week to spread the message about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
On October 27, 2008, we sent Ms. Genine and our new intern Whitney to Daisy Bates Elementary to share with the 500 kids, that attend the school, the Red Ribbon Story. The kids had a blast and so did Ms. Genine.
After hearing, what had to be one of the most animated stories of the Red Ribbon, Ms. Genine, Whitney, and guest from the Arkansas Department of Health, Tobacco Prevention Cessation Program, Chantel Tucker-Redmond and Trena Mitchell, judged the annual Daisy Bates Drug Free Week Spirit Competition. Each class group from Pre-K to 5th Grade made up their own unique chant for the judging. It was a hard decision to make, but the judges decided on one and just because it was so tough, decided to offer a second place award also.
The winners were the Kindergarten Class. The YES Team delivered 75 YES Team Frisbees for the winning class. Second place went to last year's (unbeknownst to the judges) the 3rd Grade class of 85 students. Because they were a close second, the YES Team delivered 85 YES Team Water-bottle Koozies to them. All in all it was a great message and great fun. We look forward to visiting Daisy Bates in the near future.
OH MY! What fun we had in BLEVINS, ARKANSAS--the Kids ROCKED for RED RIBBON! Two assemblies; three hundred and ninety-five cool kids; and some super teachers ROCKED the Blevins High School Gymnasium. Okay, the hour and forty minute drive to Blevins, Arkansas, smack in between Prescott and Nashville, was great and the enthusiastic group of kids, that Ms. Mary Ward assembled, were awesome! The first assembly was fun, informational and very serious at times, while the second assembly was a sure bet with the re-enactment of the Red Ribbon Story, as told by the KING and his Kingdom. Youth K-6th participated in a mock play, narrated by Ms. Genine, in which the story of the Red Ribbon and the need to share the message of staying drug free was received by the very interactive audience. Yes, Ms. Genine told us, "Yep, I'd go to Blevins Schools any day--those kids ROCKED to the 10th power.
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What will they think of next: Red Ribbon Rally flies the sky to AMBOY Elementary in North Little Rock.
What do you do when 360 little people are left in a room with five big people? You have a Red Ribbon Celebration YES Team style! That's right, when Mr. Stone dismissed all the teachers Pre-K to 5th Grade at Amboy Elementary, Ms. Genine and Jamila (TCYB & Team YES Speaks Member) didn't blink an eye. They were obviously delusional, and just as excited to work with the youth in hopes that they kids would get the message loud and clear that drugs, alcohol and tobacco were bad.
What may have seemed a little strange to everyone else was a piece of cake for these two prevention folks. To kick off the festivities Jamila and Ms. Genine taught the kiddies the YES TEAM Chant, "When you say NO to tobacco, you say YES to life." Ms. Genine contends that her side was the loudest; if nothing else, her side was the clearest. Who knows what the other side was saying. We think they were just happy the teachers were out of the room and they had permission to scream. As usual, Ms. Genine shared the story, as Jamila shot candid pictures of the kids. After the very animated and conversational presentation, the youth heard from Jamila. She shared such a powerful message, that we had to share it here. "Kids, whatever you do, don't just be drug free for this week. Be drug free all year round." With that, the kids gave her huge applause and the assembly was over. As the students marched, skipped, walked, and hopped to their rooms, several of them gave warm and fuzzy hugs, and made both Ms. Genine's and Jamila's day. Thank you Amboy for having, as you say, the BEST students in the WORLD! We had a great time with you.
SMOKE SIGNALS: Online news, updates, and feature stories
Oral Cancer Survivor, Rick Bender , Speaks!
Picture taken by Handsel Art: All rights reserved
Young people were invited to challenge an industry that calls them “replacement smokers” and to become active locally and at a state level with the Tobacco Control Youth Board and Y.E.S! (Youth Extinguishing Smoking) teams.TCYB is holding a Regional Leadership Conference in Mountain View November 28th and 29th. Information about this free event and local opportunities for youth activism can be found visiting www.tobaccofreemc.com.
With the growth of clean indoor air laws, tobacco companies are focusing on marketing spit tobacco.Phillip Morris’ parent corporation, Altria, recently purchased US Smokeless Tobacco, the largest producer of spit tobacco products.In 2006 RJ Reynolds purchased Conwood, the second largest spit tobacco producer. Spit tobacco sales have grown about 7 percent annually over the last four years according to the Associated Press.
Tobacco Free Marion County coordinator Julie Andersen notes, “Mr. Bender is a passionate and talented communicator with a valuable lesson.We hope his presentations can be a springboard for more youth involvement in tobacco prevention.”
Walking through a sea of students returning to class, cancer survivor and tobacco prevention activist, Rick Bender was asked how he evaluates his effectiveness. He returned a high five with a child while another remarked, “Great talk, dude.”
“That’s how,” he says.
Speaking to Yellville-Summit and Bruno-Pyatt Middle Schools and Flippin High School September 30, Bender shared an emotional story of his experiences with devastating oral cancer as a result of his use of spit tobacco.In 1989 he underwent lifesaving surgery that removed a third of his tongue and the right side of his face and cost him full mobility of his right arm.The cancer also cost him a promising career with the California Angels organization as a professional baseball player.
Bender uses his disfigurement as a real life lesson about the dangers of tobacco use and nicotine addiction.
A tearful Y-S student, Katlyn Jennings, remarked, “I wasn’t scared.I just feel so sad for him.”
BOOTCAMP: Team YES Speaks travels to Dover, NH for a training
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Article published Sep 30, 2008 Boot camp in the battle over tobacco
DOVER — Ten students from Arkansas received a crash course in the battle against tobacco from the nationally recognized experts from Dover Youth to Youth this weekend.
Members of the Tobacco Control Youth Board met and have been talking to Dover Youth to Youth for more than a year and decided it would be more efficient for ten members from the Youth Extinguishing Smoking speaking team to come learn in Dover, according to Program Coordinator Genine Perez, of Little Rock, Ark.
"Instead of them coming (to Arkansas) again four different times, we came here to learn to do what they do," Perez said, adding the ten students will go on to teach 1,320 fellow members in four different locations in the state.
While Dover Youth to Youth members have visited and worked with counterparts in 18 other states in the past 15 years, this is the first time participants from another program have come to Dover, according to coordinator Dana Mitchell
Mitchell said this allowed more local members to participate in the training and for them to use more tools and equipment in the McConnell Center that cannot be transported to other states.
"Actually this worked out good," Mitchell said.
Maryam Admu, 16, of Pinebluff, Ark., said she definitely learned a lot from the experience with members of Dover Youth to Youth.
"It's universal — it can be used everywhere," Admu said, adding she'll use it to teach other students to stop tobacco in Arkansas. She said it was empowering to meet others who share her passion, which helped overcome any barriers between New Hampshire and Arkansas residents. She joked they plan to introduce the term "wicked" to fellow students at home since they enjoyed hearing it so often this weekend.
Averri Liggins, 17, of Little Rock, Ark., agreed they are meshing well with their instructors in Dover, who have helped her improved her presentation skills.
"Practice improves your skills," Liggins said, adding she learned to remain confident, emphasize her words, vary pitch and connect with her audience this weekend.
Admu and Liggins, both seniors, plan to study political science and marketing and fashion design and international business, respectively, after they graduate. Admu is applying to Dartmouth College and Columbia University while Liggins hopes to attend Clark Atlanta University.
Dover Youth to Youth member Vicki Hebert, 22, of Dover, said the students from Arkansas absorbed every suggestion and began implementing the techniques as they practiced and learned more this weekend.
"It's a great way to get our message out," Helbert said, adding they were happy to help another group become more proficient in the battle against tobacco.
Click on the image above to get the full article online
TCYB Member Amy McKenzie making moves at TONE
TOP YES Team Recruiter:
Amy was the top recruiter for the first quarter July-September 2008!Keep it up Amy! In July, Amy hit the ground running and here is just a bit of what she had to say, “I have just started my YES team. I have decided to call it TAT (Teens Against Tobacco) YES team. My elementary YES team is going to be called the KAT (Kids Against Tobacco) team. ... Some people told me that they had already joined a YES team (state), but wanted to join this one because it is local.” Amy McKenzie July 24, 2008 She’s right! Quite a few youth across the state join the YES Team, but, unfortunately, if they don’t have Tobacco Control Youth Board Leaders like Amy around, they don’t get the opportunity to participateIn the state program, as often. We encourage local and community involvement. It is critical to the movement. Keep up the great work AMY! You are our quarter one winner. We’ll be sure to report your efforts to our state Affiliate.Yes all, we are doing great things as our ADH-TPCP analyst would say, Check out a bit of information about the TONE Conference.http://www.blackrock.k12.ar.us/Clubs%20and%20Organizations/TONE.html
Click on the link to visit the online article
TCYB member spreads the message and sounds the alarm!
Alesia & Caleb go back to spread the news: "What's really in a cigarette?" Both attended the Say YES Conference held in Little Rock, AR and each participated in a youth led protest that asked the question, "What's in cigarettes." Over 65 youth participated in the protest. Channels Four and Eleven captured the events for t.v.
Tobacco Coalition recruitment campaign sounds the alarm
Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas is conducting a recruitment campaign to sound the alarm of the ills of tobacco products to garner volunteers to advocate for change.
Have you ever wondered what ingredients are in tobacco smoke? Have you ever wondered why the ingredients are not listed on any tobacco product? "Think about this, every product in our stores have the ingredients listed on the packages except tobacco products; even dog food and nail polish remover have their ingredients listed," said Elroy Brown, Sr. "The tobacco company doesn't want you to know there are over 4,000 chemicals found in smoke from tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes."
Brown claims one ingredient in tobacco is cadmium which is used to recharge batteries. Another chemical in tobacco is acetone which is more commonly known as nail polish remover. Butane is in lighter fluid. Carbon Monoxide is also one of the harmful chemicals found in tobacco. Carbon monoxide is also one of the harmful chemicals found in tobacco. It is also found in car exhaust fumes. Nicotine is used in insecticide, in other words bug spray. Formaldehyde is used to embalm dead bodies, and used to treat them in order to keep them from decaying rapidly.
These are just a few of the 4,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke; the tobacco companies don't want you to know. According to Brown, chairman/coordinator of the coalition, the organization will continue to expose the tobacco company. For more information on quitting call 866-NOW-QUIT.
Headline New Smokeless Products from RJR with Bill Godshall as the point man
Reynolds moves to be on top when smoke clears
Dissolvable tobacco offered as smoking bans proliferate; critics say it looks like candy
By Richard Craver | Journal Reporter
Published: October 8, 2008
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is introducing three dissolvable smokeless products in its latest bid to make its tobacco more accessible within a society that's clamping down on smoking.
The dissolvable products -- a pellet (Camel Orbs), a twisted stick the size of a toothpick (Camel Sticks) and a film strip for the tongue (Camel Strips) -- had their debut at this week's National Association of Convenience Stores convention.
The products are made of finely milled tobacco and come in the flavor styles of fresh and mellow, spokeswoman Maura Payne said. The products last from two to three minutes for the strips, 10 to 15 minutes for the orbs and 20 to 30 minutes for the sticks.
"We're meeting the adult tobacco consumer where they are in society today," Payne said. "Consumer research has found that adult tobacco consumers have wanted another option for using tobacco where it wasn't comfortable or they weren't permitted to smoke."
Reynolds said that it is the first major U.S. tobacco manufacturer to offer the products. Star Scientific Inc., a smaller manufacturer based in Petersburg, Va., has been selling its dissolvable tobacco products -- Ariva and Stonewall -- in select regional and national chains such as Food Lion and 7-Eleven.
Reynolds plans to test the new products in Indianapolis; Columbus, Ohio; and Portland, Ore. The orbs and sticks products will have their debut in January and the strips in the second quarter.
Although Reynolds does not dictate retail prices, the company said that the dissolvable products should sell at a comparable price to a tin of Camel Snus, which is between $4 and $4.50.
The products drew criticism from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which has protested most Reynolds tobacco innovations in recent years.
"These products are flavored and packaged like candy, and very likely will appeal to children," said Matthew Myers, the president of the advocacy group.
"These products appear to be part of a continuing effort by RJR and other tobacco companies to get around the growing number of smoke-free laws and give smokers new ways to sustain their addiction in places they cannot smoke," Myers said.
Payne said that the products are sold in child-resistant packaging. Only adult consumers will be able to buy the products, and they will carry the same health warnings as other oral smokeless products.
Bill Godshall, the executive director of SmokeFree Pennsylvania, said that Reynolds is probably trying to introduce its new smokeless products before potential Food and Drug Administration regulation stamps out most innovation.
"I'm pleased that Reynolds is being aggressive in accelerating the switch to smokeless tobacco and getting more products that are likely to appeal to tobacco users," Godshall said.
In the past nine years, Reynolds has expanded its flagship brand Camel through such introductions as Camel Exotic Blends, Camel No. 9 and Camel Signature. It has branched out with Camel Snus, a smokeless product that is being promoted as the industry's best bet in a post-smoking environment.
Michelle Roehm, an associate marketing professor at Wake Forest University, said that she likes the packaging design.
"It appears to mimic the shapes and sizes of PDA devices that we're all accustomed to carrying around these days," Roehm said. "The design speaks to the occasions on which the products are likely to be used, such as on smoke-free flights, where it can conveniently be stored and accessed in the compartments of a carry-on bag."
Roehm said that the shape of the packaging does lend itself to complaints "from certain sectors that the product may catch the eye of children because the package resembles those used for gum."
John Sweeney, the director of the sports-communication program at UNC Chapel Hill, said that Reynolds will need to be subtle in how it markets the dissolvable products.
"If the ads surround Camel Sticks with bursts of color and youth-oriented language, there will be a social uprising," Sweeney said. "On the other hand, if the advertising is adult in orientation and quietly informative, the product may be left to find its way."
¦ Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com.
Products at a glance
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is preparing to test three new Camel smokeless tobacco products in 2009. Product - Flavors - Flavor length - Pack amount - Nicotine amount
New CDC Study Shows Tobacco Marketing Influences Kids to Smoke,Underscores Need for FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products
Other Studies Show Effectiveness of Tobacco Prevention Campaigns
Statement of Matthew L. Myers,
President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
WASHINGTON, DC (February 12, 2009) – Several scientific studies released today provide powerful new evidence that tobacco marketing causes kids to smoke, while anti-tobacco advertising campaigns prevent smoking. These studies send a loud and clear message to the nation’s policy makers: We need less tobacco marketing and more tobacco prevention.
It is critical that Congress this year pass legislation granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products and marketing, which among other things would crack down on tobacco marketing that appeals to kids. It is also imperative that Congress and the states increase funding for programs proven to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.
CDC Study: Youth Smokers Overwhelmingly Prefer Three Most Heavily Advertised Brands
A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that the three most heavily advertised cigarette brands – Philip Morris’ Marlboro, Lorillard’s Newport and R.J. Reynolds’ Camel – continue to be the preferred brands of youth smokers. These brands were preferred by 78.2 percent of middle school smokers and 86.5 percent of high school smokers. Marlboro is preferred by more high school smokers, 52.3 percent, than all other brands combined.
This study indicates that, despite limited restrictions placed on tobacco marketing by the 1998 state tobacco settlement, tobacco marketing continues to have a large and disproportionate impact on the nation’s youth. While tobacco companies claim they do not market to kids, they’re sure doing a good job of getting kids to use their products. This study was published in the February 13, 2009, issue of the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (www.cdc.gov/mmwr).
Congress can protect our nation’s children by granting the FDA authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products. This bill would impose specific restrictions on tobacco marketing that appeals to children. It would limit tobacco advertising in stores and in magazines with significant teen readership to black-and-white text only, eliminating the colorful images that depict smoking as cool and glamorous. It would ban outdoor tobacco advertising near schools and playgrounds, end tobacco sponsorships of sports and entertainment events, and require stores to place tobacco products behind the counter. The bill would also grant the FDA and the states authority to further limit tobacco marketing.
In addition to these marketing restrictions, the legislation would require larger and more effective health warnings, ban misleading terms such as “light” and “low-tar,” strictly regulate all health claims about tobacco products, require disclosure of the contents of and changes to tobacco products, and empower the FDA to mandate changes in tobacco products, such as the reduction or removal of harmful ingredients.
Three Studies Finds truth® Prevention Campaign Reduces Smoking and Saves Money
In addition to the new CDC studies, three new research papers find that truth®, the national youth smoking prevention campaign conducted by the American Legacy Foundation, has been both highly effective and cost-effective in preventing America’s youth from starting to smoke. One study found that truth® was directly responsible for keeping 450,000 teens from starting to smoke during its first four years, while a second study found that the campaign not only paid for itself in its first two years, but also saved between $1.9 billion and $5.4 billion in health care costs. These two studies were published online today by the American Journal of Prevention Medicine (www.ajpm-online.net). A third study in the February issue of Ethnicity and Health found that youth exposed to the truth® campaign were more likely to have anti-tobacco beliefs and attitudes.
These studies show that tobacco prevention campaigns are a vital element of the overall effort to reduce tobacco use and its devastating consequences. Unfortunately, both nationally and in the states, these programs are badly underfunded and fall woefully short of the $13.4 billion a year the tobacco companies spend to market their deadly and addictive products. This year, the states will collect $24.6 billion in revenue from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend less than three percent of it on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. No state currently meets the CDC’s recommendation for funding such programs and many states are considering cuts to their programs.
It is critical that both the federal government and the states increase funding for programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit. As underscored by the new studies, the evidence is abundantly clear that these programs not only reduce smoking and save lives, they save money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs. It is penny-wise and pound-foolish to skimp on funding for these programs.
Today’s new studies follow a landmark August 2008 report by the National Cancer Institute that reached the federal government’s strongest conclusions to date that 1) tobacco advertising and promotion cause kids to smoke and 2) mass media campaigns are effective at reducing smoking, especially when combined with other tobacco control strategies.
Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people and costing the nation nearly $100 billion in health care bills year. The Institute of Medicine, the President’s Cancer Plan and other public health authorities have recommended a clear plan for winning the fight against tobacco use. It includes FDA regulation of tobacco products, well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs, and other proven measures such as higher tobacco taxes and smoke-free workplace laws. It is critical that Congress and other elected leaders take urgent action to protect our children and the nation’s health.
The Tobacco Control Youth Board (TCYB), Team YES Speaks, and YES Team are all registered trademarks under the Youth Leadership Initiative of the Arkansas Department of Health and the Family Service Agency. 628 West Broadway, Suite 101, North Little Rock, AR 72114 888.313.0388 info@yesteam.org We are not affiliated with and DO NOT ENDORSE DESIGN GROUP MARKETING of Little Rock, AR.
