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Join The Team in raising the tobacco sales age to 21 to safeguard the future generations of Flagler County. Let's combat lifetime tobacco usage among students and lower tobacco-related risks. Follow our milestones, solutions, and the profound impact of this initiative.
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Tobacco 21 Project Protecting Flagler’s Youth
The Team “Why are we the ones to solve the problem we identified?” Daniel Thomas Being a member of Students Working Against Tobacco has encouraged me to continue the fight against Big Tobacco and raise the sales age to 21 in order to protect my community. Kamrin Bunn Anabella Giuliano I have always wanted to make a big difference in my community that would benefit society, and this project is the perfect way to do that. Watching my sister be a big part of SWAT influenced me to a great extent. Helping out with Tobacco 21 is something that I am passionate about. I feel that I should help protect our youth.
Mission Statement: To save Flagler County’s future generations by raising the tobacco sales age to 21.
The Problem Lifetime tobacco usage amongst Flagler County students in 2016 was higher than other forms of drugs. 46.4% 42.6% 24.3% 7% Results found from the 2016 Flagler County Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey
To raise the tobacco sales age to 21. Data has shown that raising the sales age to 21 would dramatically reduce the presence of tobacco related drugs in our schools. Tobacco Free Kids The Solution
Milestones What we’ve accomplished and what we hope to achieve. Nov. 2016 Dec. 2016 Jan. 2017 Feb. 2017 March 2017 April 2017 First meeting with Mrs. Tomko. Planning meeting with Ms. Heather and Mrs. Terry. Tobacco Partnership Meeting. City of Palm Coast and City of Bunnell Meetings. Have the ordinance passed. City of Flagler Beach and County Commissioners Meetings.
Primary & Secondhand Smoke Kills A Half Million Americans Annually Second- hand Smoke Auto Crashes All of Vietnam War Primary Smoking All of WWII Opiates/Cocaine Murders
Breast Cancer Cervical Cancer Acute Leukemia Myocardial Infarction Asthma Chronic Bronchitis Stroke S.I.D.S. Bladder Cancer Esophageal Cancer Prematurity Alzheimers Stillbirth Miscarriage Lung Cancer Aortic Dissection Lip/Tongue/Mouth Cancer Kidney Cancer
Bereavement ICU Disability Despair Loss Chemo Funeral Hospice Surgery Radiation Death Suffering Pain Depression EmergencyRoom
As a result of Big Tobacco, The FDA is prohibited from raising the tobacco age nationally • Tobacco companies rely on creating “new smokers” out of youth • Raising the age means less new smokers
25% Drop in Youth Initiation • 12% Drop in Overall Smoking • 12% Drop in Prematurity • 16% Drop in SIDS
In the last two years over 200 cities in multiple states covering 20 million people have raised their minimum sales age to 21.
The Science Behind 21 • The brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 25. • Tobacco products have been linked to cancer and early death, and as of right now, tobacco is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. There's an emerging body of evidence that has demonstrated that nicotine exposure can particularly harm the prefrontal cortex of the brain and lead to adverse health effects in the developing adolescent brain, and that can also continue into young adulthood. The prefrontal cortex is involved with aspects of decision-making, cognition and memory.
Reproductive Outcomes • Female infertility • Low sperm count, motility, function • Reduced erectile function • Miscarriage • Ectopic Pregnancy • Placental Abruption/Accretion • Placental Previa • Low birth weight • Prematurity • Stillbirth • SIDS • Poor Lung Development • Behavior Changes 45% of infant death in Northeast Florida had smoking as one of the many factors.
Flagler County Infant Mortality Crisis • Our infant mortality rate is 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 deaths. • Mortality for Black and Hispanic babies is significantly higher. • Flagler County women ages 18-21 smoke at twice the rate of their older counterparts. Source: NEFloridaCounts.org
Needham, Massachusetts • 2004 Health Board Acts • Grandfathering 2005-2008
18–20 year olds purchase only 2% of cigarettes sold. 18-20 year olds may account for as much as 90% of adults who purchase tobacco for younger kids. T Radecki, unpublished survey data, 1999.
Why now? We have realized that there is a problem in our community with tobacco usage and now we are asking our elected officials to help us protect our youth.