Press Releases

Defy 2009: Louisiana Youth Complete State's First Defy Retreat and Trainings

Approximately 120 Louisiana youth have completed the states first Defy Annual Retreat—a three day tobacco prevention and control and activism training series that facilitates youth empowerment, thereby reducing the influence of the tobacco industry. Following a series of presentations, including those given by a nationally recognized youth empowerment and advocacy expert, student participants formulated and presented their own action plans for exposing the tobacco industrys manipulative marketing practices that target kids.

Its important for kids to understand that we are nothing more than a target to an industry who sells a deadly product. said Tamanna Patel, Defy Program Coordinator for The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. By coming together, we can send a strong and determined message that we wont be deceived. Ultimately, the youth leaders intend to build awareness among legislators about the need for policies that place stronger restrictions on tobacco, including tobacco marketing and advertising.

Approximately 25% of Louisiana high school-aged youth are smokers and in Louisiana alone, it is estimated that the tobacco industry spends more than $291.5 million annually on tobacco marketing and advertising that targets Louisiana youth.

The Defy Retreat 2009 agenda included training topics in Tobacco 202, Tobacco Control Today, and Activism 202. Keynote speaker Sam Allen of AllenOrtiz, a company specializing in youth empowerment for social change, presented special topics on The Importance of Action and Action Planning and Youth Empowerment.

Though the National Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement placed restrictions on tobacco youth marketing, the tobacco industry continues to target kids in deceptive ways, added Patel. This retreat was the first opportunity for all youth Defy members to come together to share, plan and ignite the fight against Big Tobacco.

Louisiana youth interested in becoming a member of the Defy movement can register for the 2009-10 series in the summer at www.defythelies.com.