Free Workshop: "Youth Tobacco Use" Exposes Issues, Offers Solutions

August 23, 2012

Youth Tobacco Use is the topic of an August 29 workshop offered by Solano County Health & Social Services Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP.) 

The workshop is part four of a series of six free trainings to increase community knowledge about tobacco issues and to support the Solano County Tobacco Education Coalition in its mission "to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in Solano County."   

"We will provide training and supplement it with technical assistance and relevant materials to support grassroots community efforts to curb the tide of youth tobacco use," explained Felicia Flores-Workman, TPEP project director.  

The Youth Tobacco Use workshop will cover:  youth smoking rates in Solano; the increase of mentholated tobacco products that attract and ease youth smoking initiation; and how public advocacy can influence the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to strengthen regulations on tobacco items favored by young teens.  Lindsey Freitas, policy manager for the American Lung Association of California's Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing, will discuss the FDA Tobacco Control Law.  TPEP Project Director Felicia Flores-Workman will present the local youth smoking data and describe TPEP and coalition activities now under way in Dixon, Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo.

The fifth tobacco workshop, Tobacco’s Impact on Health, including tobacco’s impact on pregnant moms, is set for October.  The final workshop, planned for 2013, will be Tobacco’s Impact on Special Populations and will include tobacco use impact on military, low socio-economic groups, various racial groups, substance users, and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.  Previous workshops covered emerging tobacco products, second- and third-hand smoke, and effective tobacco cessation strategies.

Youth Tobacco Use is Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to noon in the multi-purpose room  of the Health and Social Services Building at 2101 Courage Drive in Fairfield.  All interested persons should register by Monday, August 27 by calling 707-784-8900.  Additional information about TPEP and the coalition is available at tobaccofreesolano.org.