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VSAAC Anti-Tobacco Programs

 Tobacco kills more Americans every year than murder, AIDS, arson, car crashes, alcohol, and "hard drugs" combined.  Because of its vast health consequences, VSAAC has made tobacco prevention a major focus of its programming efforts, battling its use on community, state, and national levels.

As an active member of the MATCH (Mobilize Against Tobacco for Children's Health) Coalition, VSAAC works tirelessly to develop, promote, and implement anti-tobacco programs, initiatives, and advocacy opportunities for youth and adults that are helping to fight the power and influence of "big tobacco," reduce tobacco usage and exposure to second-hand smoke, and create a healthier, smoke-free community for us all.  Below are some ways that you can get involved in VSAAC's ongoing anti-tobacco efforts:

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S.T.A.T.I.C
(Students Teaching Against Tobacco in Connecticut)
The Valley STATIC chapter is an active youth-led group whose mission is to provide inside information to other youth about how the tobacco industry works and the methods they use to entice customers to buy their products.  The Valley chapter is actively seeking local high school youth who want to use their creative energy to rebel against the tobacco industry and encourage their peers to avoid tobacco use.  If you are interested in joining STATIC, or would like more information, please contact VSAAC today!
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CT Girl Scout Troop 347
Smoke-Free Dining Project

Since September of 1999, VSAAC has been working with Connecticut Girl Scout Troop 347 to battle the problem of second-hand smoke in our communities.  The project which started as a smoke-free dining campaign (initiated when VSAAC staff visited the Troop to teach members about second-hand smoke and its dangers) has been instrumental in not only promoting smoke-free dining throughout the Valley, but also in educating the community about this issue, promoting smoke-free or healthy homes and businesses, and encouraging youth and others to not smoke and/or quit smoking.  Some highlights of the troop's activities include:

  • Production of an anti-smoking video with the help of Tele-Media Cable Company.

  • Signing-up 550 smoke-free homes during the VSAAC "Healthy Homes Contest.

  • Appearing in numerous television, newspaper, newsletter, and other media venues to promote our smoke-free message.

  • Meeting with various CT legislators, as well as Governor Rowland to promote our smoke-free message.

  • Traveling to Washington, D.C. to present our smoke-free program to national organizations and staff representatives from Congress.

  • Participating in the annual "Kick Butts Day" rally in Hartford, CT.

  • Performing as puppeteers in the "Kids on the Block" performance troop's "Up in Smoke" program.

  • Producing a :30 Public Service Announcement regarding the negative aspects of second-hand smoke which aired on Tele-Media Cable, Nickelodeon, MTV, ESPN, ABC, NBC, and more.

Connecticut Girl Scout Troop 347 continues to work to educate the public about the dangers of second-hand smoke and to lobby for tougher legislation regarding anti-tobacco laws.  On Friday, May 23, 2003, Governor John Rowland signed into law Public Act No. 03-45, making Connecticut one of only four states in the country to have a comprehensive ban against smoking in all worksites.  By October1, 2003, all restaurants in CT must also be smoke free, and all bars must be smoke-free by April 1, 2004.  The Girl Scout Troop celebrated this victory as well as the realization that we can all make a difference by staying committed to a cause.  For more information about Troop 347's smoke-free campaign activities, contact Ann Marie Cirkot (203) 734-0916.

 

 

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