Four youth groups from within the Tri-County Health Department service area of Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, including youth from Englewood have helped write, produce and star in a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that educate residents about the harmful effects of tobacco on the community.
The youth groups were given the task of creating PSAs on unique areas of focus: tobacco in parks and outdoor spaces, electronic smoking devices (such as e-cigarettes) and cheap and sweetly flavored tobacco products that appeal to youth. The youth groups that participated in this project include, Arapahoe County/CSU Extension, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Denver YMCA, and Englewood Leadership Academy.
”We’re so proud of the kids at Englewood Leadership Academy for taking action to help our community,” said the Englewood Leadership Academy Principal Jonathan Fore. “Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the U.S. and across the globe. By keeping our parks and recreational areas free of cigarette butts and other tobacco products, we protect our kids, our pets and our environment.”
“Also, the tobacco prevention messages that are posted around EHS have helped raise awareness of the dangers of smoking amongst our teenagers in high school and middle school,” continued Fore. “This is a time when some kids pick up smoking, so having clear anti-smoking messages helps students’ make a better, and healthier choice to not use tobacco.”
This campaign is funded through an Amendment 35 grant program that is distributed by the Tri-County Health Department. In 2004 Colorado voters approved Amendment 35, a tax increase on cigarettes and other tobacco products. The revenue was designated for health care services and tobacco education to improve the health of all Coloradans.
The PSAs will be shown on local television stations and in select movies theaters in the Tri-County area through June 7, 2015. To learn more about this campaign or to view the PSAs, visit TobaccoFree303.org. To view the PSA created by youth in Englewood go to www.tobaccofree303.org/outdoor-spaces.