LIHU’E-A recently released report by the federal Department of Health and Human Services indicates that 30 percent of Americans above the age of 12 -66.8 million people – use tobacco. Of those, 57 million smoke cigarettes. But several organizations throughout
LIHU’E-A recently released report by the federal Department of Health and Human
Services indicates that 30 percent of Americans above the age of 12 -66.8
million people – use tobacco. Of those, 57 million smoke cigarettes.
But
several organizations throughout Hawai’i have formed in recent years with the
mission of preventing youth from starting smoking and helping those who are to
quit.
Last month, the state Department of Heath and the three-year-old
Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii announced a new ad campaign designed to
discourage tobacco use among youth. The advertisements will be displayed in
locations that commonly attract teenagers, such as shopping malls and movie
theaters.
Each ad features a photograph of a teenager and a slogan such as
“Smoking is like saying ‘I’m cool, I’m hip, I’m copying 300 million other
idiots'” or “Are your kisses like roses? Or charcoal briquettes?”
This
afternoon, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu’e, the
Department of Health and the Tobacco Prevention Control Trust Fund Advisory
Board – created by state legislation after the 1999 tobacco settlement -was
scheduled to hold a public meeting for input on the development of a statewide
tobacco prevention and control plan. The two-hour forum will cover the
ramifications of the settlement and plans for the future.
Those who are
unable to attend the meeting but would like to provide input may do so through
Sept. 15 by faxing ideas to (808) 521-6286 or via the Hawai’i Community
Foundation’s Web site at www.hcf-hawaii.org.
Charles Roessler, coordinator
of the Kaua’i Tobacco-Free Community Coalition, said the town meeting -one of
eight being held across Hawai’i this week – allows public testimony to be
collected from all over, rather than just Oahu. By holding the meetings in
several locations, he said, the groups will be able to overcome ethnic, social
and geographic boundaries.
“We have all these subpopulations across the
state,” Roessler said. “And it’s important that we have the resources to reach
as many people as possible.”
Roessler said the public opinion gathered at
the meetings will be used by the advisory board to draft a plan as to how a
portion of the tobacco settlement should be distributed, which will then be
presented at additional public forums in January.
Staff writer Matt
Smylie can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226) and msmylie@pulitzer.net
