DC Campaign Combating Underage Use of Tobacco Launches with Merchant Posters And PSAs; DOH Grant...

WASHINGTON -- Posters and public service announcements designed to curb the sale of tobacco to minors in Washington, DC and its suburbs are currently being distributed by the Center for Child Protection and Family Support as part of a $50,000 grant it was awarded recently by the District of Columbia's

The English and Spanish language posters and PSAs depict the lower half of a girl's face with a burning cigarette in her mouth. The copy points to the long-term dangers of teenage smoking and cautions merchants about the laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors, urging them to never stop checking for IDs. The posters will be distributed to area tobacco retailers, and the PSAs will be sent to the metro-area's newspapers and magazines. All merchants will also be asked to sign a pledge that they will abide by the law. The poster/PSA is available for download at: http://www.stopchildabusenow.org.

"We want merchants to understand the consequences of selling any type of tobacco to underage children; that they are breaking the law and that they are encouraging a dangerous addiction with life-long health risks," said Joyce Thomas, president and CEO of the Center for Child Protection and Family Support. "Through this campaign we are delivering a direct message that hopefully will curtail this serious community problem."

The increase of violations of vendors selling tobacco products to minors has cost the District $1.4 million in federal penalties. DOH's Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration branch is supporting area youth and community organizations in their efforts to help enforce the Act, which call for cooperation to achieve a goal of "No Tobacco Sales to Minors Under 18."

According to a 2000 DOH report:

--Approximately 23% of youth in the District of Columbia currently smoke;

--Nearly one million packs of cigarettes are illegally sold in the District every year; and,

--Every year in the District, approximately 1,000 youth become new smokers.

The Center for Child Protection and Family Support of Washington, DC works to ensure all children are given the opportunity to mature and develop within a family free of maltreatment, and in a community that nurtures and protects them from violence. Prevention, education, early intervention, and mental health treatments are the focal point of The Center's approach for working with child victims and their families. More information can be found on The Center's new web site at www.stopchildabusenow.org.