On March 23, American youth will take a stand against tobacco use by celebrating Kick Butts Day. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids sponsors the nationwide event. Bismarck area students are holding a variety of educational events as part of the Kick Butts Day campaign. One event at Simle Middle School will have a display about “Fatal Figures. Another event at Century High School will have a display about what is in a cigarette and provide North Dakota Quitline materials.
“Young people are so savvy today. They know that the tobacco industry is marketing to them and hoping to lure in new customers,” said Susan Kahler, Community Outreach Coordinator. “Kick Butts Day is the time when youth get to speak up about the tactics of the tobacco industry. They get to tell everyone that the tobacco industry spends more than $30 million a year marketing their products in North Dakota.”
“Bismarck Burleigh Public Health, Tobacco Prevention also wants to highlight the dangers of tobacco and how easy it is to get addicted to nicotine,” said Susan Kahler, Community Outreach Coordinator. “They want to warn people not to get taken in by the industry’s new efforts to sell things like tobacco snus and e-cigarettes. These products still contain nicotine and many other deadly chemicals.” Events such as Kick Butts Day are aimed at persuading young people not to start smoking or to quit. If there are students who want to quit using tobacco they can call the North Dakota Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit www.nd.quitnet.com
March 23 marks the 16th anniversary for the Kick Butts Day campaign, which is sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Youth across the country will be organizing events and leading information campaigns to spread the message about the tobacco industry and the deadly effects of tobacco.
For more information visit www.bismarck.org or contact Susan Kahler at 701-355-1595 or Email