Ohio Teen Summit Confirms Direction For stand Youth Anti-Tobacco Campaign
04/21/02
COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend fifty-two teen
leaders from across Ohio confirmed the future direction of the stand campaign
to reduce youth tobacco use. stand is Ohio's first-ever tobacco
counter-marketing campaign that will use
"We know that for the stand campaign to be effective the message must
resonate with Ohio's young people," said Michael Renner, executive director of
Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation (TUPCF), which sponsored the
Summit. "The goal this weekend was to give these teen leaders the tools they
need to play an active role in the campaign development and to ensure that the
campaign is built upon their ideas."
During the Summit, the teens learned about the health perils of tobacco
use, how tobacco companies target advertising to specific audiences and why
young people are a primary focus of the stand campaign.
Youth Committees Focusing on Specific Campaign Elements
The Advisory Panel met for the first time at the Vern Riffe Center for
Government and the Arts. After the teens learned about the campaign
objectives, they formed committees to brainstorm how to develop a campaign
including advertising, online communications, community leadership and a
statewide music contest. The Summit concluded with each committee presenting
its ideas to further develop the campaign.
"The students demonstrated their firm endorsement of the stand brand and
are ready to deliver that message to youths across Ohio," said Renner.
Students at the Summit had this to say about their experience and why they
wanted to be involved in the stand counter-marketing campaign:
"I feel very strongly about tobacco and believe that tobacco is a drug. I
know people that use tobacco and hope that I can influence them to quit.
I was surprised to hear how many people in Ohio die from tobacco-related
illnesses."
Danny Ecker, Worthington Kilbourne High School, Columbus
"I want to get some of my family members and friends to stop smoking. It
is not healthy. I was shocked to learn about some of the chemicals that
are put in cigarettes."
Heather Bulford, Niles McKinley High School, Niles
"I am participating because two of my grandparents died from lung cancer.
I am very against smoking and I don't like how tobacco companies target
teens."
Kevin Lowery, Garfield Heights High School, Garfield Heights
"I quit smoking because I was in the band. Smoking and being in the band
doesn't mix. It was hurting my health."
Brandi Hall, Aiken High School, Cincinnati
"I have been involved in tobacco advocacy for about four years. My
grandfather died from lung cancer. I signed up to be on the web committee
because these days technology is more important and a lot of kids are
online and spend time there. It is a good way to reach those kids. Kids
need to know that they can have fun without using tobacco."
Kelly Park, Revere High School, Akron
"I have been involved in anti-smoking programs for the last year. There
are a lot of kids that smoke and I want to pass around the information to
help kids not start smoking."
Mike Streb, Canton Central Catholic High School, Canton
"I want other kids to know why this habit is a bad one and that it is
leading them to an earlier death."
Teresa Egbert, Westerville North High School, Columbus
"I have been involved in anti-smoking programs since the sixth grade.
With stand, I can reach more kids to keep them from smoking. I learned
about how influential advertising can be."
Kira Heeley, Lakewood High School, Lakewood
"I selected the advertising committee because it is what the outside will
see on this campaign, it reaches out to people and really makes them
start to believe. I want to help shape the campaign. I feel strongly
about tobacco issues and I want to educate others because that is why I
am here."
Sarah Cooper, Northmont City Schools, Englewood
"I want to do my part to smash the blatant capitalist greed the tobacco
industries perpetrate and I also want to try and educate as many people
as possible about the effects. I selected the music outreach program
because music is universal and it will reach a wide variety of kids and
age groups."
Dylan Taylor-Lehman, Zanesville High School, Zanesville
"I've always been involved in tobacco prevention. I hate seeing people
smoke, its nasty and it kills people."
Nicholas Bryan, Elida High School, Lima
About stand
Officially launched on February 28 at events around Ohio, the stand
counter-marketing campaign encourages Ohioans to take a "stand against
tobacco" through uniquely branded advertising, interactive and community-based
activities to reach and empower the diverse populations across Ohio, with
special attention on youths.
About TUPCF
TUPCF was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 2000 and is funded with
monies secured from the highly publicized national Master Settlement Agreement
(MSA) between tobacco companies and 46 states, including Ohio. The Foundation
is charged with reducing tobacco use among Ohioans, with an emphasis on
reducing the use of tobacco by youth, minority and regional populations,
pregnant women, and others who may be disproportionately affected by the use
of tobacco.