The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living Celebrates Take Down Tobacco Day in New Iberia
Mar. 31, 2022
New Iberia, LA – (March 31, 2022) – The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) is celebrating Take Down Tobacco Day in conjunction with Westgate High School and local businesses. Take Down Tobacco Day is a National Day of Action that empowers people to stand up and speak out against the tobacco industry. Every spring since 1996, hundreds of communities hold events and rally together to Take Down Tobacco. This year’s Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action will be held on April 1, 2022. The celebration comes on the heels of the City of New Iberia passing a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance that includes bars and gaming facilities.
Westgate High School, a Next Era school, is hosting a Clean Air Picnic outside on Friday, April 1 to encourage students to enjoy the fresh air and live vape/tobacco-free. In addition to the picnic, messaging about living vape/tobacco-free will be shared via the school’s daily announcements to educate all students and faculty about the dangerous health effects of smoking and vaping. Students also have the opportunity to sign a banner, pledging that they will make healthy decisions and abstain from tobacco in all forms, including smoking, chewing, and vaping. PSAs were also created by Westgate High School students for local elementary and middle schools to encourage future Westgate Tigers to avoid tobacco products.
In addition to efforts by Westgate High School, two local businesses, Duffy's Diner and Jane's Seafood, will incorporate placemats with cessation information into their dining experience. The placements will highlight resources and tips for those who want to quit tobacco products.
Louisianans interested in quitting tobacco can visit www.QuitWithUsLa.org or call 1-800-Quit-Now to connect with a quit coach and create a personalized Quit Plan. Coaches are available 24/7, seven days a week. Quit With Us, Louisiana also provides counseling services over the phone, via text, through an app, or on the website chatbox. Quit Coaches can also provide cessation medication and make recommendations on what prescription medications participants can review with their doctor. Youth ages 13 to 17 who want to quit vaping can get vaping-specific cessation assistance by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373.
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The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) engages in local and statewide tobacco control policy efforts that focus on tobacco prevention and initiation among youth, eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, promote cessation services, and identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities. TFL is guided by best practices in tobacco control and envisions a healthier Louisiana by reducing the excessive burden of tobacco use on all Louisianans. For more information visit www.tobaccofreeliving.org. To find out more about the dangers of secondhand smoke and show your support for a smoke-free Louisiana, visit www.healthierairforall.org. To learn more about quitting tobacco, visit www.quitwithusla.org.
About the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC)
Founded by the Louisiana State Legislature in 2002, the LCRC is a public-private partnership designed to promote education about cancer and conduct important research on the diagnosis, detection, treatment, and prevention of cancer in Louisiana. The LCRC partners with the public at large and four major cancer research institutions in Louisiana: LSU Health, Tulane University, Ochsner Health System, and Xavier University. More information about the LCRC is available at www.louisianacancercenter.org.
About the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI)
LPHI is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit public health institute that has proudly served the residents of Louisiana for nearly 25 years. As the public health landscape shifts and changes at an ever-quickening pace, LPHI’s role is to be both responsive to the immediate public health needs of Louisiana residents and to create an environment for long-term public health improvements. LPHI has four priority areas as part of the organization’s strategic plan, including Racial Justice and Health Equity, Partnerships and Collaboration, A Healthier Louisiana, and A Thriving Organization, and aims to help all Louisianans achieve their full potential for health and wellness. For more information, visit www.lphi.org.