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Jasmine Shafik 

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Youth-Created "Tobacco and Hollywood" Ads Unveiled  

(Garden Grove, CA) - To help youth make informed decisions and to counter the influence that smoking in movies has on youth, the County of Orange Heath Care Agency's Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) joined with community leaders, educators, and students for a series of special events to unveil youth-created "Tobacco and Hollywood" bus shelter posters.

One of the bus shelter unveiling events featured youth artist Jocelyn Romero from Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, which took place on March 4, 2010 in Garden Grove on the corner of Brookhurst St. and Hazard Ave. Her cartoon poster, "Smoking will take you to your last Heartbeat," aims to educate the public about the negative influence of youth being exposed to smoking by actors in the media. 

Smoking in movies has been shown in research studies to increase the likelihood that youth will start smoking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has repeatedly cited exposure to tobacco use in media as a major factor in youth smoking. Youth who see smoking on television and other media are more likely to start smoking than youth who are not exposed to smoking in media. A study from Dartmouth Medical School shows that children age 10-14 who watched the highest amount of smoking in movies were 2.71 times more likey to start smoking than those children who viewed the least amount.

For more questions about this event, please contact Mikayla Curtis, Director of High School Programs at 714-530-5399 ext. 27. 

ABOUT TOBACCO USE PREVENTION PROGRAM (TUPP)
The mission of the Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) is to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in Orange County by collaborating with community organizations, public agencies, and committed individuals. TUPP offers youth and adults tobacco education, as well as free smoking cessation and prevention programs. Information about cessation services for adults and teens is available by calling (866) NEW-LUNG or (866) 639-5864. More information about TUPP can be found online at www.ochealthinfo.com/tupp.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GARDEN GROVE
For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove (BGCGG) has helped kids “BE GREAT” by changing and saving young lives, playing an integral role in its community. Striving to help children succeed in life, the Boys & Girls Clubs provide hope and opportunity through after-school, family support and community outreach programs. Known as The Positive Place For Kids, our 57 program sites serve over 5,000 young people from “Diapers to Diplomas,” ages 18 months-18 years old, every day.

The Clubs are open daily with programs in character and leadership development, education and career enhancement, the arts, health and life skills, and sports, fitness and recreation. Our family outreach programs such as Family Campus Preschool, School Readiness, REACH For Literacy (Reading Education for Adults & CHildren), ARCHES (Access to Resources for Children's Health, Education and Support), FYOP (Family & Youth Outreach Program), and TRC (Truancy Reduction Center) expand our services to ensure that the needs of the whole child are met. Through our efforts we do our best to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Please visit www.begreatgardengrove.org for more information.

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