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Home My WebLink AboutA017 - Memo from YSS - update on tobacco control educational efforts YOUTH SHELTER SERVICES, INC. 420 Kellogg Ave. P.O. Box 1628 Ames, IA 50010-1628 Helping the next generation roar to a brighter future Phone:515-233-3141 Fax:515-233-2440 TO: Mayor Ted Tedesco E-mail: yssOames.net Web Page:www.yss.ames.ia us FROM: George Belitsos Richard O.Jacobson AK Youth x Family Center DATE: January 18, 2000 Bari—Office 515-233-3141 Fax 515-233-2440 F-ayC—lingCenter RE: Brief Update on Tobacco Control Educational Efforts 515-233-2250 Fax 515-233-2440 Family Foster Care 515-233-6011 F.515-233-2440 Youth Ti Eaplsyme.r nian mcnt Center HF. We are encouraged to learn of the Council's interest in promoting tobacco control RueMrfiyP•nrnnzC^(ad-A), education. This helps to ease our disappointment with the Council's decision to Nwrurirg Panw FA catio.Protram, Y-1 Moat d Yormg Dade,Valrrrxn postpone action regarding enforcement of the license suspension for repeated sales to '•Srfr dP1tl o*xpmna u minors by retailers. 515-232-4331 Far 515-233-2440 (Boone County)Youth a Family Comscli•g Center The following is a brief update on teen-centered and YSS tobacco projects currently 1015 union Sweet in "the works": Beene.1A 50036 515432-7983 Fa 515432-7657 Cl.rmiolDepeodeacyServi—Mrograms • The Mayor Youth Council is creating a certificate, which will be mailed to outpuimt&AfierarcSerd all tobacco permit holders alongwith additional information on 511 Duff Avenue,Suite 301 ry Ama61A50010 compliance. They are also planning to tape an educational program for 515663-8o55 Fu5156638057 Seven-12 House Cable TV's Government Channel in conjunction with YSS's Few Do 712 Burnett Avenue youth. m Aes,1A 50010 _ 515-233-5048 Far515663-4909 A. P-F— Members of the YSS Youth Planning Committee are creating a brochure YA...eM Ar l very Ha, .R rs which will be hand delivered to tobacco permit holders in Story County. 8ANmes,Kdiogo one This brochure will include information on compliance, why it is important 515-233.4930 Far 515-233-4422 to comply with the law, and what will happen if they are caught violating (Hamilton couaty)Youth x F•rnify Center the law. 321 Second Soar Webster City.1A 50595 5 1 54 3 2-1061 Far 515432-1070 • Tobacco education programs are being presented in elementary and lowaHomrkn Youth Ceaters(DaMoina) middle school classrooms by YSS Prevention staff. Lighthotue Homeless Host Home Family Futures Day Shelter for Children 1216 Martin Luther hang Jr.Plrwy. o Thousands of book covers were recently distributed to all seven school Der Moire.IA 50014 y 515-288-7884 F.515-288-7885 districts in Story County. They are a part of the Few Do project and share Bachanaa Transitional tkringPmgno the Few Do message (85% of Story County kids are smoke free) and Y�(MOHa"RY)Herod—ch n °c R"°'w'y include some facts about tobacco. 1219 Buchanan Sam - Des Moires,[A 50316 515-265-1222 Faa 515-26"377 In the last year, 10 billboards sharing the Few Do message were purchased FsnagencyMobac Ph:515-249-1443 in the Ames area and three posters were distributed and displayed in each Lighthouse Hornehea Host Homes Amer,Boone,Der M-iner,Mirr/a(Goum of the seven school districts in Story County. Marshall County Youth,Runaway,& Faray Services A prevention poster designed by youth will soon be made and distributed 130 Wen Main street Marshalltown,lA 50158 totobacco permit holders. Stores will be asked to place this poster by the 515-752-23M Far 515-752-4768 time clock and cash registers to remind employees to ID customers who ooffF�arcamSmo Service ry Countyurea u wish to purchase tobacco products. 83o sixth street Nevada,1A6874 F.SIS-382-2256 ' 6874 515-382 Let me know if the Council would like more information or to hear a presentation R-dale Shelter from the youth involved in the tobacco control campaign. 703 Barrett Avenue Ames,IA 50010 515-233-2330 F.515-233-3310 24-hour Crisis Line. GB:gmw Ames...............515-233-2330 Out ofAmes......1-800-600-2330 A United Way Agency k 10 Ct ty T �jy 6�e pR1VtA LtCE>'SE No. t234 mcio A Hef�,t tic e4ai A�d�'F IM ZLv MAN I.D. oac no�o�: v 1-.3`1 SUPMHC-Ra ST. ` a,�vwµEaE,uSo. 555SS �1 t, . :r YOUR LETTERS I Youth smoking TO THE EDITOR Story County school districts. ing the responsibility where it commend the Iowa This is a new approach based belongs—with underage youth on the well-researched"social and with tobacco sales clerks Legislature for its recent norms"theory.It's based on the and the businesses that stand to lenactment of stiffer penal- commonly known fact that profit from tobacco sales. ties for underage tobacco users youth strive to fit in with their We need to do all we can to and for clerks who sell to under- peer group.But surveys find help our youth from beginning a age youth.It's at least a move in that while most students per- tobacco addiction,and we need the right direction.Because we ceive themselves as reluctant to to involve our youth,along with are so accustomed to witnessing use tobacco,they perceive their every segment of society,in tobacco use,we sometimes tend peers as much more likely to solving the problem.With this in to forget that we are,after all, smoke than is the case in reality. mind,I also applaud our local dealing with the sale and use of This misperception of the norni city and county law enforcement a lethal product. leads them through gradual for their pledge to continue com- Your April 6 editorial made changes in behavior to fit in with pliance checks(see The Tribune, several important points about the incorrectly perceived norm. April 4)of grocery and conve- how to prevent the health-crip- Furthermore,this distorted view nience stores,despite the loss of ping and death dealing effects alienates the true majority of stu- federal funds to perform these of tobacco among our children. dents who do not use tobacco. checks. It was especially gratifying to These students get the warped In conclusion,I offer the fol- read that you advocate that perception that it is their more lowing research-based statistics youth take a major role in pre- responsible behavior that is out to keep us in mind of what we venting their peers from ever of whack. are dealing with when it comes starting to smoke.After all,sta- Now that the Iowa tistics on cigarette smoking tell to tobacco.Compared to non- tistics if a youth reaches the e Legislature has stiffened penal- smokers,cigarette smokers g ties for both selling to underage have: of 18 without smoking,they are youth and for buying while ♦Twice the risk of heart very unlikely to begin thereafter. under 18,Story County Youth attacks,bladder cancer and I also agree wholeheartedly planning Committee members strokes; with your conclusion that,like are moving forward with a ♦Four times the risk of can- Florida where smoking among " camp IDs"cam ai to tell cer of the eso ha middle and high school students p � store owners and sales clerks ♦Seven times the risk of has been reduced by 45 percent, ` "Iowa needs a`Youth Corps that they can be a Superhero" death from emphysema or by making sure to check identi- chronic bronchitis; Against Smoking'to help carry fications on driver's licenses. ♦Eight times the risk of can- the message to their peers.That Owing to the fact that Ames is cer of the larynx; and an education program far above the state and national ♦Ten to 20 tunes the risk of accompanied by enforcement of average for sale of tobacco prod- lung cancer. new laws,offer the best chance ucts to teens,it's impressive to Especially where our young of success. Financing the new witness youth themselves trying people are concerned,we need a Youth Corps with money from to educate grocery and conve- new attitude of youth develop- the tobacco companies is a deli- nience store clerks and thereby ment that engages youth in com- cious irony that should float well reduce the illegal sales figure munity action against tobacco in among the legislators and citi- from its disappointingly high 41 partnership with adults. zens,and,don't forget,the percent level last year. Realizing that it's especially yrnrng." The tccn.�ha%c dr:ignc�l a important Icn youth to hr;uh- Through YSS'Story County poster for businesses to hang stance-free while their bodies Youth Planning Committee, near the cash register.The poster and minds are developing into many high school youth in depicts a flying superhero whose adulthood,we should recognize Ames and surrounding towns face is that of drivers license nicotine for the addictive sub- have been working on just such photo.The superhero points to a stance that it is,and enforce a youth-led tobacco prevention pace just below the ID photo tobacco control laws thoroughly campaign to convince their peers where a red panel reads that this and uniformly. It's the least we to never start using tobacco.You person is"Under 18 until can do. may have seen the billboards this (a specific date). Smaller hand group has sponsored,which size versions will be distributed George Belitsos declare that"Few Do!"They to individual clerks. Chief executive officer have also printed and distributed I'm proud of this group of' Youth and Shelter Services thousands of posters and book Story County teens who are 420KelkggAve. covers to fold over textbooks for working to prevent their peers Ames their fellow students in all seven from using tobacco and for plat- * 3� r' Story County,page 40 Part IV contains a summary of ever and current substance use prevalence rates. tobacco use N'ei�lred By Grade Level in Your County By Gender in Your County Weighted Cotmty Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 1 I Male Female state Any Tobacco Current 13% 2% 8% 27% 14% 12% 20% Ever 240/6 6% 19% 47% 26% 22% 33% Cigarettes Current 12% 2% 8% 25% 12% 12% 18% Ever 23% 6% 18% 45% 24% 22% 31% Cigars Current 5% 0% 4% 90/0 7% 2% 6% Smokeless tobacco Current 2% - 0% 3% 4% 4% 1% 5% Ever 1% 6% 15% 11% 4% 12% a1COhO1 use wct�ted By Grade Level in Your Cotmty By en in Your County Weighted Catt6ty Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 11 Male Female State Any Alcohol Current -±490/o 4% 16% 35% 20% 16% 27% Ever "-38% 14% 32% 66% 41% 34% 47% drug use Weighted By Grade Level in Your County By Gender in Your County Weighted county Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade I 1 Male Female state Any Drug use Current :''.7% 2% 6% 14% 9% 5% 11% Ever -18%= 6% 15% 31% 20% 15% 21% Amphetamines Current 2% 0% 2% 3% 1% 3% 2% Ever -4% 0% 4% 8% 4% 4% 5% Cocaine Current :�2%.` 0% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% Ever 3% 1% 3% 6% 4% 3% 4% Inhalants Current 2% 2% 3% 1% 3% 1% 3% Ever 90/6 6% 9% 12% 11% 7% 8% Marijuana Current 5% 0% 3% 12% 7% 3% 8% Ever 13% 1% 8% 28% 15% 10% 17% Methamphetamines Current 1% 0% 2% 2% 1% 2% 2% Ever 3% 1% 2% 6% 3% 3% 3% Steroids Current 1% 0% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% Ever 2% 0% 3% 3% 3% 1% 2% Any other illegal drug use Current 20/6 0% 2% 3% 3% 1% 2% Ever 4% 0% 4% 7% 5% 3% 4% t These cells make up< 10%of respondents $ These cells make up>90%of respondent