Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/May 31, 2024
Today marks the annual World No Tobacco Day. With a theme of youth empowerment and activism, the World Health Organization (WHO) is spearheading a social media campaign that amplifies the voices of young individuals who are taking a stand against tobacco industry interference.
At the heart of this campaign is a “for youth, by youth” strategy, placing young people at the forefront of advocacy efforts. They are leading the charge in exposing the manipulative and deceptive practices of the tobacco industry, shedding light on the profound consequences tobacco has on health, social justice, and the environment.
One of the key issues highlighted is the staggering amount of money spent by the tobacco industry on advertising, estimated at around $8 billion dollars annually. This expenditure is aimed at influencing and targeting young people, luring them into a habit that poses significant risks to their health and well-being. By empowering youth to speak out against tobacco industry interference, it sends a resounding message that the collective voice of young people cannot be silenced in the face of profit-driven agendas that jeopardize the public’s health.
World No Tobacco Day 2024 serves as a platform for young voices from all corners of the globe to unite in demanding action. They are calling upon governments to implement policies that safeguard them from the harmful tactics of tobacco corporations, particularly through the pervasive marketing on social media and streaming platforms.
Quitting tobacco and nicotine use
Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health offers trained quit specialists and no-cost nicotine patches and gum. These are available to the public by calling the HPEPH Tobacco Talk Line at 613-966-5500, ext. 600. HPEPH also offers school health clinics for local high school students. Contact your guidance office or school health nurse for more information.
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Media Contacts:
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
We invite community partners and residents to share this Media Release with their respective networks.
