On March 19, the Jackson-Madison County Region Health Department, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson, will hold an anti-smoking rally and poster contest to fight Big Tobacco. Students will be urged to sign a pledge to stay tobacco-free.
Kids in Tennessee will stand up against tobacco as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 19th annual Kick Butts Day. More than 1,400 events are planned across the nation.
Organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kick Butts Day is an annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco. On Kick Butts Day, youth will encourage their peers to stay tobacco-free and educate their communities about the tobacco industry’s harmful marketing practices.
This year, Kick Butts Day comes as new information reaffirms the urgent need for action. The United States is marking the 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health
In Tennessee alone, tobacco use claims 10,000 lives and costs $2.67 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 21.6 percent of the state’s high school students smoke.
On Kick Butts Day, kids turn the tables on Big Tobacco in creative ways, with events that range from small classroom activities about the harmful ingredients in cigarettes to large rallies at state capitols.
Time: 4 PM. Location: Boys and Girls Club of Jackson, 832 Lexington Avenue, Jackson
