Welcome to the Washington Parish Town Hall Meeting

Washington Parish Youth Council

One of 12 groups across the state that were awarded grants from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) to engage and get youth involved with tobacco control and prevention efforts through the Defy the Lies initiative.

What We Do As part of the grant, ADAPT’s Defy team has participated in a point-of-purchase (also known as point-of-sale) project, which focuses on tobacco products and advertising in stores in their own communities, where youth are likely to visit on a regular basis, like gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores.

The Council Is made up of 8 junior and high school students. We are active participants in our schools, communities and church. We wanted to expand our knowledge of tobacco abuse among our friends and neighbors.

“Many youth think that flavored tobacco products, such as little cigars, cigarillos or smokeless tobacco, are safer or less addictive than regular tobacco products. This is not true.” “All tobacco products contain nicotine, the chemical that makes it hard to quit once started." Defy The Lies

Visit with Rep. Harold Ritchie

We were there! Washington Parish Free Fair

On the Web

Bogalusa Blues Festival

And again, Bogalusa Blues Festival

Kick Butts Day

Facts We Know Louisiana’s teen tobacco rates are higher than the national average.

Youth who shop at convenience stores filled with tobacco advertisements are “twice as likely to start smoking.

We visited 60 stores The Big Seller DEFY Youth visited 60 stores in Washington Parish. Of the stores that were open for business and appropriate to survey: 44 of the 47 stores (approximately 93.6%) visited sold tobacco. While cigarettes remain the most popular kind of tobacco product, 97.7% of stores sell little cigars or cigarillos. Washington Parish Results

Appeal to Us Targeting Youth Little cigars and cigarillos are popular with youth and young adults and are often flavored to increase their appeal. 16% of the stores surveyed had tobacco products targeting youth (at eye level, next to candy, or next to cash register). More Parish Results

Outside Advertising Inside Advertising Of the stores that sold tobacco, 63.6% had tobacco ads OUTSIDE the store. The average number of ads outside was % had tobacco ads INSIDE the store. The average number of ads inside was 8. What We Know from Washington Parish

Louisiana Caring Communities Louisiana Caring Communities Youth Survey 2012 Washington ParishStateNatl % Smoked cigarette in past 30 days, 6 th Graders NA % Chewing tobacco use in past 30 days, 6 th Graders NA % Smoked cigarette in past 30 days, 8 th Graders % Chewing tobacco use in past 30 days, 8 th Graders % Smoked cigarette in past 30 days, 10 th Graders % Smoked ½ pack cigarettes daily, 10 th Graders % Chewing tobacco use in past 30 days, 10 th Graders % Smoked cigarette in past 30 days, 12 th Graders % Smoked ½ pack cigarettes daily, 12 th Graders % Chewing tobacco use in past 30 days, 12 th Graders

Parish Stores Go for Youth The Impulse Buyer Stores are more likely to advertise all types of tobacco products INSIDE the store. Advertising inside stores is meant to encourage customers to make last-minute “impulse” purchases. Tobacco Companies Want Youth

Alcohol Use Facts There are approximately 88,000 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use each year in the United States. This makes excessive alcohol use the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation. Excessive alcohol use is responsible for 2.5 million years of potential life lost annually, or an average of about 30 years of potential life lost for each

Facts We Know Louisiana’s teen alcohol use rates are higher than the national average.

Louisiana Caring Communities Louisiana Caring Communities Youth Survey 2012 – 6 th Graders Washington ParishStateNatl % Consumed alcohol in past 30 days NA % Participates in binge drinking NA

Louisiana Caring Communities Louisiana Caring Communities Youth Survey th Graders Washington ParishStateNatl % Consumed alcohol in past 30 days % Participates in binge drinking

Louisiana Caring Communities Louisiana Caring Communities Youth Survey 2012 – 10 th Graders Washington ParishStateNatl % Consumed alcohol in past 30 days % Participates in binge drinking

Louisiana Caring Communities Louisiana Caring Communities Youth Survey 2012 – 12 th Graders Washington ParishStateNatl % Consumed alcohol in past 30 days % Participates in binge drinking

Problems and Costs Associated with Underage Drinking in Louisiana Underage drinking cost the citizens of Louisiana $1.3 billion in These costs include medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering associated with the multiple problems resulting from the use of alcohol by Youth.

Additional Concerns in Washington Parish Youth riding in a vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol 6 th Grade – 18% 10 th Grade – 32% 8 th Grade – 25% 12 th Grade – 25% Youth driving a vehicle when drinking alcohol 10 th Grade – 5% 12 th Grade – 10% Youth drunk or high at school 6 th Grade – 5% 10 th Grade – 18% 8 th Grade – 8% 12 th Grade – 14%

What Will We Do? Community Awareness and Education School Programs Grants  Applied for Drug Free Communities Grant Other

For More Information Contact ADAPT Office at ADAPT Office at Visit Adapt Office at 216 Memphis Street, Bogalusa LA Charlette Fornea, M.ED, LPC-S, NCC ADAPT Executive Director

THANKS FOR ATTENDING THE TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL TOWN HALL MEETING