January 17, 2000
(Health and Community Services)

Teen Tobacco Team begins Tobacco Awareness Program

The province's Teen Tobacco Team has begun its tobacco awareness program by launching their first poster during National Non-Smoking Week, January 17 - 23. The poster, titled "It's Our Turn to be Heard" aims to make young people aware of the Teen Tobacco Team and its goal to help teens in this province kick the smoking addiction, or to prevent them from ever starting to smoke.

"We want young people to know that smoking can kill them. It's as simple as that," said Bernie Squires, youth tobacco coordinator, Department of Health and Community Services. "We've established a toll-free telephone number and an e-mail address so that teens from all parts of Newfoundland and Labrador can touch base with us to discuss any issues related to tobacco."

Posters have been distributed to every school in the province, all health care institutions and to many community groups throughout the province. Young people wishing to contact the youth tobacco coordinator to provide input into the development of the province's Youth Tobacco Reduction Strategy or to request information, can e-mail the Teen Tobacco Team at teentobaccoteam@mail.gov.nf.ca or telephone free of charge to 1-877-330 TEEN (8336).

Over the coming weeks, the Teen Tobacco Team will be reviewing "Kick the Nic" a smoking cessation program for youth which will be piloted in communities throughout the province by early spring. Government and the Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT) will also be announcing a Class of 2000 Smoking Prevention Scholarship Program. The Class of 2000 Smoking Prevention Program was launched with students in Grade 2 in 1990 with the goal for this generation to be smoke free by the year 2000. These students who pledged to be smoke free will be graduating this spring.

"I commend the teens for their work to date, and encourage other young people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to become role models for their friends. By working together, both young and old people alike will realize smoking is killing our people. Just as the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving has conveyed a message against drinking and driving, so too can our young people teach us that we should not smoke," said Roger Grimes, Minister of Health and Community Services.

Government and the Alliance for the Control of Tobacco announced the Provincial Tobacco Reduction Strategy late in 1999. Brent Smith, program director of ACT, said he encourages people of all ages to reflect on the goals of National Non-Smoking Week, and to realize the improved health benefits of ceasing to smoke.

Media contact:

Carl Cooper
Department of Health and Community Services
(709) 729-1377                                     

Brent Smith
Alliance for the Control of Tobacco
 (709) 753-0079

Christopher Sheppard, Postville 479-9846

Rachel Luther, St. Lewis 939-2253

Shirley Hill, Sheshatshiu 497-8463

Craig Loder, Sop�s Arm 482-2414

Tara Young, Springdale 673-4478

Victoria Burry, Clarenville 466-3993

Jennifer Graham, Burin 891-2004

Jeremy Babstock, St. John�s 726-4506

Kathy Reddy, St. John�s 579-4685

Josh Furneaux, St. John�s 579-1155

2000 01 17                                                                     12:55 p.m.