2. Who Are We?
We are part of the Washington Parish
Youth Council, a group of eight youth from
Washington Parish schools. We are
Tanner, Abby, Grace, Fallon, Madison,
Abbi, Claire, and Maddie.
3. We Are Not Replacements For Those Who Quit
Smoking
We are a youth movement to stop tobacco
companies from advertising to youth. We don’t
want youth to start smoking at all.
Our group hopes to raise awareness about the
dangers of secondhand smoke.
4. We Rally for a Cause.
Studies have shown that exposure to tobacco
products increases the likelihood that youth
will start smoking and makes it harder for
smokers to quit by prompting impulse
purchases.
We don’t want our friends to
start
at
all.
5. During the year, we had a display at Pine Senior High,
Franklinton High, the Bogalusa Blues Festival and the
Washington Parish Free Fair. We attended a national
conference on marijuana, tobacco and alcohol in
Washington, D.C., created posters in our schools,
made presentations in our community, created a
YouTube video and now, we are here with you.
6. Where We Go To School
Now, to
concentrate on
Washington
Parish.
WP
Pine Junior/Senior High
School
Franklinton, Varnado,
Bogalusa
7. We Are Not Replacements
We Are Graduates We are Leaders
9. No Tobacco Products
Our youth are against the smoking of tobacco,
tobacco products, natural or synthetic
marijuana, other plant products, and the use of
electronic smoking devices. A Louisiana
Caring Communities Survey from 2012 found
25.4% of 12th graders in our parish smoke —
one of the highest smoking rates in the
country. 18.7% teens in the nation smoke.
10. No Risk-Free Exposure
But a smaller poll, from the American Cancer
Society, found that 66% of voters favor a
smoke-free ordinance.
In a statement, Louisiana Public Health
Institute wrote, "The fact is, there is no risk-
free level of exposure; even brief exposure can
be harmful to health. Eliminating smoking in
indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect
nonsmokers from secondhand smoke
exposure."
12. Listen to the U.S. Surgeon
General
According to the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's Report,
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to
Tobacco Smoke, has concluded that secondhand smoke
exposure causes disease and premature death in
children and adults who do not smoke;
13. More from The Surgeon
General
Children exposed to secondhand smoke
are at an increased risk for sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory
problems, ear infections, and asthma
attacks, and that smoking by parents
causes respiratory symptoms and slows
lung growth in their children.
14. More from the Surgeon General
Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has
immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular
system and causes coronary heart disease and
lung cancer.
15. One Final Fact
There is no risk-free level of exposure to
secondhand smoke so when people smoke,
we are all exposed.
16. Now Is The Time to Make
Progress
Implementing 100% smoke-free environment
is the only effective way to protect our parish
from the harmful effects of exposure to
secondhand smoke.
17. Go Tobacco Free For The Youth
For the next generation of smoke-free young
adults.
18. Again, We Ask for Change
We ask that our Council
adopt smoke-free
ordinances like those in
Abbeyville, Alexandria,
Cheneyville, Monroe,
Quachita Parish, West
Monroe, Woolworth, New
Orleans and Hammond.
Please make our parish, our
fair and our city tobacco
19. WE ARE NOT
REPLACEMENTS FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED
FROM SMOKING
Washington Parish Youth Council
20. As R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Executives
Said,
“Younger adult smokers are the only source of
replacement smokers.”
Memo from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
researcher Diane Burrows, February 29, 1984.
We are not Replacements Smokers.
21. We Are Washington Parish
Youth
Grace Anne
Abby
Fallon
Tanner
Madison
Maddie
Claire
Abbi
