WASHINGTON, D.C.—Kids in Montana will stand up to Big Tobacco on March 18 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 20th annual Kick Butts Day. More than 1,000 events are planned nationwide for this day of youth activism, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (See below for a list of local events.)
 
On Kick Butts Day, kids encourage their peers to stay tobacco-free, demand that tobacco companies stop marketing deadly, addictive products to them and encourage elected officials to do more to reduce youth tobacco use.
                                                                                                                         
This year, Kick Butts Day is focusing attention on how the tobacco industry still spends huge sums on marketing and is adopting new strategies to reach young customers. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $8.8 billion a year – one million dollars every hour – to market tobacco products. In Montana, tobacco companies spend $27.1 million annually on marketing efforts. The industry’s tactics that entice kids include:

·         Splashy ads in magazines with large youth readership, such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine and Rolling Stone.

·         Widespread advertising and price discounts in stores, which make tobacco products appealing and affordable to kids.

·         New, sweet-flavored tobacco products such as small cigars and electronic cigarettes. The latest surveys show that youth use of e-cigarettes has skyrocketed.

 
In addition to organizing events, kids are standing up to the tobacco industry on social media through the #NotAReplacement selfie campaign. The tobacco industry’s own documents reveal that they have long targeted kids as “replacement smokers” for the more than 480,000 people their products kill each year in the United States. Kids are taking selfies to say they’re not a replacement and sharing the photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the #NotAReplacement hashtag. (view the #NotAReplacement selfie gallery)
 

“On Kick Butts Day, kids stand up and reject Big Tobacco’s manipulative marketing,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “We can make the next generation tobacco-free and end the tobacco epidemic for good. Elected officials can help reach that goal by standing with kids and supporting proven strategies to prevent youth tobacco use, including higher tobacco taxes, strong smoke-free laws and prevention programs.”
 
In Montana, tobacco use claims 1,600 lives and costs $440 million in health care bills each year. Currently, a disturbing 15.2 percent of Montana’s high school students smoke.
 
On Kick Butts Day, kids engage in creative events that range from small classroom activities about the harmful ingredients in cigarettes to large rallies at state capitols.
 
In Montana, activities include:
 
The Dawson County Health Department and students from the Washington Middle School Teens in Partnership (TIP) will encourage those driving to work to honk and wave for tobacco prevention at the Badlands Federal Credit Union. Mascots “Mo the Moose” and “Ciggy Butts” will wave at cars as students hold signs explaining the dangers of tobacco use. Time: 7:30 AM. Location: 302 W. Towne Street, Glendive. Contact: Laureen Murphree (406) 377-5213.
 
Students from the Students Taking Action Not Drugs (STAND) chapters at Glacier High School and Flathead High School will spread the word about the dangers of tobacco to students at Kalispell Middle School by posting #NotAReplacement selfie statements to Instagram. Time: 8 AM. Location: 205 Northwest Lane, Kalispell. Contact: Genia Tartaglino (406) 250-0054.
 
Healthy Gallatin and students from the Monforton Middle School Leadership Class/reACT will celebrate the conclusion of a month-long online scavenger hunt aimed at youth throughout Gallatin County. The scavenger hunt features point-of-sale tobacco marketing uploaded to Instagram for the chance to win an iTunes gift card. Time: 12 PM. Location: 215 W. Mendenhall Street, Bozeman. Contact: Jennifer MacFarlane (406) 582-3189.
 
On March 19, students from the Malta High School reACT! Team will host a Kick Butts Day kickball tournament at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line in Malta. Following the tournament, the students will conduct an educational presentation on the ingredients in cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Time: 3:30 PM. Location: 101 South 7th Street W., Malta. Contact: Sonia Young (406) 654-2378.
 
On March 20, Dixon School District students will host an educational carnival about the dangers of tobacco use, featuring educational booths Mr. Grossmouth, tar jar and blackened breathing lungs. The students will also host a poster contest and commit to staying tobacco-free. Time: 12:55 PM. Location: 411 B Street, Dixon. Contact: Marie Michaels (406) 246-3566.
 
Events are on March 18 unless otherwise indicated. For a full list of Kick Butts Day activities in Montana, visit www.kickbuttsday.org/map. Additional information about tobacco, including state-by-state statistics, can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.