Participate in National Kick Butts Day

March 19, 2008 - National Kick Butts Day (KBD) is Wednesday, April 2^nd, 2008.  KBD is a day of activism that empowers youth to speak up and take action against tobacco use at more than 2,000 events nationwide.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and kills 440,000 people in the United States each year. Most of these deaths are the result of complications from lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, and other illnesses. Tobacco use kills more people in the United States each year than AIDS, alcohol, motor vehicle accidents, murders, illegal drugs and suicide combined and costs the U.S. more than $180 billion annually in health care bills and lost productivity.

Why Celebrate KBD in Schools?

Every day 1,500 kids become daily smokers; one-third will die prematurely as a result.

It is estimated that 23 percent of high school students are smokers. Approximately $15 billion is invested in tobacco marketing annually, with significant advertising targeting kids and teens and a total of 83 percent of smokers under 18 prefer the three most heavily advertised brands.

KBD, an initiative of the The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, was launched in September 2005. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a non-profit organization that seeks to educate the public and policy makers about the tobacco problem and expose the tobacco industry’s efforts to market to children and mislead the public. Through a variety of services, including KBD, The Campaign advocates for solutions, mobilizes organizations, empowers youth, and enhances tobacco prevention efforts internationally.

Activities for KBD participants include creating a “pledge wall,” “Project 1200,” “60 Seconds of Fame” and “knocking out tobacco ads”, an activity for elementary and middle school students to engage in with local high school and college athletes.  Registration for events is available on the KBD website.

News clips on KBD events and additional information can be obtained at:

CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS
1400 I Street, NW
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005

Source: National Kick Butts Day Website, The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 2008.