Anti-Tobacco Blitz Targets Hispanic Men, 18 to 35
The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN
United Hispanic Americans Inc. has joined the Indiana Tobacco Prevention Cessation Agency in a statewide initiative to increase awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco on men age 18 to 35.
Agencies in 90 Indiana counties are involved in this month’s effort to reach young minority men with information about the dangers of using tobacco and how to become smoke-free.
United Hispanic Americans, based in Allen County, is using its own bilingual Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program to specifically target Hispanic men with educational information about illnesses and death related to tobacco use, a written release said.
One way the agency is doing this is through March Blitz events that will take place at car dealerships and international grocery stores in Fort Wayne and culminate in a Latin dance celebration March 31.
"These fun and informative events are geared to catching the attention of these Latino males in an effort to keep them from being addicted to cigarettes or smokeless tobacco and/or encouraging Latino males to quit for good," the release said.
According to Leo Pech, adult tobacco prevention specialist at United Hispanic Americans, 27 people in Indiana die every day from smoking-related causes.
----------------------------------- March Blitz events United Hispanic Americans, along with Indiana Tobacco Prevention Cessation Agency, will have activities geared toward educating Hispanic people about the dangers of tobacco use:
March 31 Super Musical Dance 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Links Wonderland, 1711 E. Creighton Ave.
Facts for Life
- Quit smoking.
- Find a local tobacco prevention coalition in my community.
- Find which Indiana cities have a smoke free law.
- Get my workplace to be smoke free.
- Find area restaurants that are smoke free.
- Make my apartment building smoke free.
- Protect my family from secondhand smoke.
- Find more information about the Indiana Tobacco Quitline.
- Report a retailer selling tobacco to a youth.
