To the Editor:

In response to a recent news article stating that 25 percent of St. Lawrence and Jefferson Country residents are smokers, I would like to share some information on the Tobacco-Free St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis Counties program.

Our program works in two ways: first, to minimize the effects of tobacco use on non-users and the general public, and second to prevent youth from ever starting to use tobacco.

To protect non-smokers from the effects of secondhand smoke we are offering assistance and signage to housing authorities to implement smoke-free policies. The Surgeon General has concluded that there is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke, a dangerous carcinogen, and no way to control the spread of smoke from one apartment to the next.

We also offer free signage and policy work for municipalities, campuses, parks, playgrounds, and businesses to go tobacco-free outdoors.

Research shows that 90% of smokers begin by age 18. The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars every year to market their products to children. Counter displays are found most prominently at youth eye level, lower than the average adults’, and next to youth friendly items such as candy. We advocate for store to cover their tobacco products with cabinetry to protect youth.

The tobacco-industry notoriously targets low income populations, as seen by the recent surge of tobacco marketing in dollar stores. Signs proudly stating “We Sell Cigarettes” can be see seen plastered to any Dollar General. Tobacco companies also spend a large portion of their budgets creating coupons and discounts to compensate for state minimum pricing laws. We strive to eliminate coupons and keep tobacco prices high to discourage price sensitive populations, like youth, from buying cigarettes.

Our Reality Check youth work hard to educate the community about tobacco marketing and work with local and state legislators to pass policies such as zoning ordinances that prohibit new tobacco retailers from cropping up within so many feet of a school. They also communicate with the Motion Picture Association of America on the issue of tobacco imagery in youth rated films.

We are here to help the community move towards a healthier tobacco-free society. We are not against smokers, but simply seek to protect youth and nonsmokers, essentially the community at large, from tobacco marketing and imagery and secondhand smoke.

For more information about our program call 713-4861 or ebillings@svpc.net

Elizabeth Billings

Tobacco-Free SLJLC Program Assistant