RESOURCES
Pennsylvania Tobacco Facts
17,300 youth in Pennsylvania will become new daily smokers every year
858,000 young Pennsylvanians will be exposed to secondhand smoke at home
300,000 kids now under 18 and living in Pennsylvania will ultimately die prematurely from smoking
Other Facts
- 130,400 Pennsylvania high school students smoke
- Smoking-caused health costs in Pennsylvania reach over 5 BILLION dollars
- Tobacco use kills more than 400,000 people each year in the U.S., more than the total number killed by AIDS, alcohol, motor vehicles, homicide, illegal drugs, and suicide combined
- It is estimated that 1,820 to 3,240 adults, children, and babies die in Pennsylvania each year from others’ smoking (secondhand smoke & pregnancy smoking)
- Exposure to secondhand smoke has been estimated to result in at least 38,000 annual deaths in the United States and over one million illnesses in children.
- Since 1970, smokeless, or spit, tobacco has gone from a product used primarily by older men to one used predominantly by young men and boys.
Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
TRU Media Templates
Press Release
Contact: [Regional Leader][XXX-XXX-XXXX][email@email.com]
MONTH XX, 2013
[REGION] Launches Tobacco Resistance Unit Youth Movement
Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco debuts TRU youth movement in PA to prevent peers from tobacco use
[CITY, PA] – The Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) is a brand new youth movement throughout the state to protect Pennsylvania’s youth from all tobacco and nicotine products, through community outreach, education, prevention and cessation. The movement has been started by the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT) to get young Pennsylvanians from the [region] to help peer educate their friends and classmates about the truth behind tobacco.
The [REGION] serving [County Names] counties have started a TRU Regional Unit in the area. Students ranging from ages 12-18 have joined together with one vision: for all Pennsylvanian youth to be tobacco- and nicotine-free.
The facts speak for themselves:
130,400 Pennsylvania high school students smoke
17,300 youth in Pennsylvania will become new daily smokers every year
858,000 young Pennsylvanians will be exposed to secondhand smoke at home
300,000 kids now under 18 and alive in Pennsylvania will ultimately die prematurely from smoking
TRU is committed to prevent youth from ever starting to use tobacco, and helping those who do smoke –quit. Young Pennsylvanians do not know about the very real dangers of tobacco-use; TRU aims to teach them. Another big threat to youth is smokeless tobacco and cigars. Products like chewing tobacco and snus can cause cancer of the mouth and are NOT a safe alternative to smoking. “TRU is committed to preventing tobacco and nicotine use by Pennsylvania youth and exposing Big Tobacco’s lies,” says PACT executive director Joy Blankley Meyer. “We know that through education, social media and community outreach we can connect with youth in a meaningful way, and change behaviors. And that means we will be saving lives and healthcare dollars.”
To join TRU or for more information, visit TRUinPA.org
Positive direction, powerful action.
End.
Letter to the Editor
I’m a young Pennsylvanian and I am part of a movement – a movement that will preserve the health and save the lives of thousands of Pennsylvanians. We call ourselves the Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) and we want to expose the truth about the dangers of tobacco-use and prevent youth just like me from ever starting to use tobacco.
You see, over 130,000 Pennsylvania high school students are smokers and we need to help them to quit. More importantly, we are committed to prevent youth from ever starting to use tobacco. The moment you take a drag of a cigarette your airways tighten and get irritated, causing you to cough, hack, and produce more phlegm. These are things that not all young Pennsylvanians know. We want to teach them. Another big threat to our youth is smokeless tobacco and cigars. Products like chewing tobacco and snus can cause cancer of the mouth and are NOT a safe alternative to smoking? Join us to spread the TRUth. Visit TRUinPA.org to learn more and get involved.
Sincerely,
Name
Contact information
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Wanted Flyer
Invitation Card
Advocacy 101 Webinar
