Louisiana Public Health Institute
FACT:
69.2% of African American students (compared to 52.7% of white students) in Louisiana are more likely to have used smokeless tobacco before the age of 11.

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The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living Announces Community Program Grant Recipients

Youth-focused tobacco prevention programs awarded in Alexandria

Alexandria, LA, July 18, 2006 The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) has awarded 17 Community Program Grants totaling more than $398,000 to non-profit organizations and community groups across Louisiana. In the Alexandria area, Louisiana Youth Prevention Services (3, 4, 5 and 6) will receive TFL Community Program Grants to fund tobacco-prevention programs designed to prevent youth from becoming tobacco users.

According to the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living, 36.4 percent of high school students in Louisiana smoke. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, nearly 9,000 Louisiana youth become daily smokers each year, and more than 107,900 Louisiana youth (currently under the age of 18) will ultimately die prematurely from smoking and smoking-related diseases.

Preventing young people from starting to use tobacco in the first place is the most effective way to reduce death and disease caused by tobacco use, says Monette Fontenot, Alexandria Area Regional Coordinator for The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living.

Through TFLs Community Program Grant partners, we are educating Louisiana youth on the health consequences of tobacco use and bringing attention to Big Tobaccos deceptive tactics designed to get youth hooked.

These efforts will ultimately help empower kids to make the choice not to start smoking, or to quit, adds Fontenot.

Community Program Grant recipients will implement one of three Evidence Based Intervention programs proven to reduce tobacco initiation by youth: Family Matters, MediaSharp, or Project Towards No Tobacco (TNT). The programs are designed specifically for middle and high school-aged students.
Community Program Grants are part of TFLs broad reaching effort to help communities reduce the toll of tobacco use, says Dr. Charles Brown, Chairman of the TFL Steering Committee. By engaging partners at the regional level, we can raise awareness of the health effects of secondhand smoke, reduce youth initiation of tobacco use, and ultimately, save lives.

To learn more about The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living Community Program Grants awarded in Alexandria, contact Monette Fontenot at 318-487-5279 or by email at mfontenot@lphi.org.

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living provides statewide coordination of existing tobacco control initiatives, funds innovative community programs for tobacco control, and develops statewide media campaigns to help reduce the excessive burden of tobacco use on the states resources and improve the overall health and quality of life. TFL also funds the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW. For more information on creating a smoke-free environment where you live, work and play, visit www.tobaccofreeliving.org. For help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).