The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Identify small communities set in their traditional values, which tend to get "Stuck in the Mud" and are many times unwilling to listen and make the positive changes necessary. To view tobacco prevention as a rights issue instead of a health issue. This mentality is detrimental as tobacco has no boundaries where it goes. It is noted that tobacco companies target the less fortunate and smaller areas because there is less education on the dangers of tobacco for this target group. Develop a free/earned media campaign educating all groups.

Methods: Share examples of ideas that have worked in our communities. Train the participants and enable them to identify their community leaders and target groups. Once identified, participants will be able to develop a media campaign to maximize potential for media exposure and finding the most effective way to gain public involvement. We will engage the participants by having them create samples of free media examples for their communities.

Results: It is proven in our communities what we have done works, as our coalitions have grown, the number of smoke-free venues has increased dramatically, public awareness has increased consistently by using free/earned media and educational forums. By using events such as; Great American Smoke-Out, Kick Butts Day, Through With Chew Week, World No Tobacco Day, etc., the community is inundated with the messages of the hazards of tobacco. The policy changes are noticeable as businesses are writing policy that includes tobacco-free as well as smoke-free facilities.