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April 2016 Volume 5, Issue 4

A Closer Lo k Inside This Issue:

The New Watkins Glen School Apartments Are Smoke-Free

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Youth Exposure to Tobacco

Marketing Remains High

2

Kick Butts Day Event Summary 3

* Contact STTAC and get FREE

signage for your worksite when

you develop a new tobacco-free

grounds or entryway policy for

your business, while supplies last!

a healthy bottom line

STTAC Staff:

Stacy Hills, MS, MCHES STTAC Director shills@co.chemung.ny.us

Sarah Robbins, BS

Reality Check Coordinator

sarahrobbins@co.chemung.ny.us

Teresa Matterazzo, MS

Community Engagement Coordinator

tmatterazzo@co.chemung.ny.us

McKenzie Richardson, AS

Program Assistant

mrichardson@co.chemung.ny.us

February was Black History Month.

The New Watkins Glen School Apartments Are Smoke-Free

On March 10, 2016 NYS Homes and Community Renewal joined Two Plus Four Construction, SEPP Management Group, and partners to officially announce the opening of Watkins Glen School Apart-ments. This was a renovation of the former Watkins Glen Middle School into a 51 unit, one-and two-bedroom, affordable development for seniors. This complex, as well as other prop-erties managed by SEPP Management group are 100% Smoke-Free for the safety and health of their residents, and their structures. The Policy covers all 51 units.

The smoking policy put in place by SEPP is important to recognize because of health, social, and financial concerns. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke and secondhand smoke easily migrates from one unit to another through door-ways, cracks, electrical lines, plumbing, and venti-lation systems. Children and the elderly are espe-cially susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke. It can increase the risk of premature death, respiratory problems, ear infections, lung cancer, and heart disease. Legally, a Smoke-Free policy is beneficial because no court to date has upheld that there is any legal right to smoke in federally subsidized housing, nor is the right to smoke inside or outside a state or federal consti-tutional right. Also, it can be possible for non-

smokers to bring legal action against owners and smoking tenants for breach of covenant of quiet enjoyment, negligence, nuisance, and breach of warranty of habitability, and under the Fair Hous-ing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act if tenants have lung or respiratory issues. Monetary savings will also result as there will be fewer in-stances of burned counter tops, floors, and car-pets, as well as less labor and materials will be needed to rehab a unit after smoking occupants move out. Fire risk and destruction from water and smoke will also be greatly reduced. Lastly, smoke free policies de-normalize tobacco use and in turn help make tobacco free spaces the norm; they positively impact the health of individuals and communities.

The Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition would like to commemorate all involved in devel-oping this project, and for providing a safe and healthy place for seniors of the Watkins Glen Community to reside.

Sources: 1. http://www.nyshcr.org/Press/news160310.htm

2. http://www.smokefreehousingny.org/

Television,

movies, and the

internet offer

the tobacco

industry direct

and sometimes

unregulated

access into

teens daily

lives.

STTAC.ORG

Youth Exposure to Tobacco Marketing Remains High

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The U.S. Tobacco Industry spent an estimated $9.6 billion dollars on advertising and promotion

of cigarettes1 and smokeless tobacco2 in 2012. Although the Tobacco Control Act allows states

and communities to restrict or regulate the time, place and manner of tobacco product market-

ing, data from the New York Youth Tobacco Survey finds that youth are being exposed to to-

bacco product marketing at an alarming rate.

Awareness of advertising in the retail environment decreased significantly between 2002 and

2014, yet 84.8% of high school students still reported seeing tobacco related ads in conven-

ience stores, supermarkets, gas stations or pharmacies in 2014. (see figure)

Awareness of pro-tobacco marketing via the internet increased significantly between 2000

and 2014, from a low of 57.5% of high school students reporting exposure in 2000 to 78.7%

in 2014. (see figure)

Over 92% of high school students have been exposed to tobacco marketing in 2014, via the

internet or in the retail environment. (data not shown)

“There is strong, consistent evidence that advertising and promotion influence the factors that

lead directly to tobacco use by adolescents, including the initiation of cigarette smoking as well as

its continuation” according to the Surgeon General’s report on Preventing Tobacco Use Among

Youth and Young Adults.3 Continued efforts to reduce tobacco marketing are essential to curtail

tobacco use.

Percentage of NYS High School Students Reporting Awareness of

Pro-Tobacco Marketing, 2000 – 2014

1. Federal Trade Commission Cigarette Report for 2012. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-

commission-cigarette-report- 2012/150327-2012cigaretterpt.pdf. Accessed March 7, 2016.

2. Federal Trade Commission Smokeless Tobacco Report for 2012. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/repor ts/federal-

trade-commission-smokeless-tobacco-report-2012/150327-2012smokelesstobaccorpt.pdf. Accessed March 7, 2016.

3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon Gen-

eral. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2012.

Source: NY Youth Tobacco Survey, 2000-2014. Please contact us with questions or comments at the Bureau of Chronic Disease Evaluation and

Research, New York State Department of Health at (518) 473-0673 or send an e-mail to tcp@health.ny.gov. StatShots can be accessed online at:

http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/reports/statshots/

The Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition (STTAC) seeks to build healthier communities through tobacco free living in Chemung, Schuyler & Steuben, NY.

STTAC has 4 initiatives:

To reduce the impact of retail tobacco product marketing on youth, Point-of Sale (POS).

To increase the number Tobac-co Free Outdoor (TFO) poli-cies, which includes tobacco free worksites, parks, vehicles, entryways and other public out-door areas.

To increase the number of smoke-free multi-unit housing (SF-MUH).

Eliminate pro-tobacco imagery from youth-rated movies and the internet, Smoke-Free Media (SFM).

Physical & Mailing Address:

103 Washington Street Elmira, NY 14901

Elmira Office Phone number:

Main Line: 607-737-2858

Director: 737-2028 ext.73482

Reality Check Coordinator: 737-2028 ext.73480

Community Engagement Coordinator: 737-2028 ext.73483

Program Assistant: 737-2028 ext.73481

Corning Office Phone number:

Main Line: 607-937-9922

We’re on the Web, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube! www.sttac.org www.facebook/sttac www.twitter/sttacny www.youtube/sttacny

STTAC Contact Information:

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Kick Butts Day Event Summary The Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition (STTAC) youth program, Reality Check, and the Elmira Jackals partnered for this year's Kick Butts Day celebration. Kick Butts Day is a national holiday focused on activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco.

"There is strong, consistent evidence that adver-tising and promotion influence the factors that lead directly to tobacco use by adolescents, in-cluding the initiation of cigarette smoking as well as its continuation" according to the Surgeon General's report on Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults. Tobacco com-panies bombard retailers with tobacco marketing materials and promotions. Those stores are fre-quented by youth, and can heavily and promi-nently display tobacco products near cash regis-ters and candy where youth will see them.

During the game on Saturday, local youth collect-ed support for tobacco-free initiatives and edu-cated the public on how we can help our commu-nity become healthier by restricting the amount of tobacco retail advertising. Reality Check youth also declared "We've Seen Enough" tobacco mar-keting and created visual displays of tobacco re-tailer density maps.

The U.S. Tobacco Industry spent an estimated $9.6 billion dollars on advertising and promotion of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in 2012. Alt-hough the Tobacco Control Act allows states and communities to restrict or regulate the time, place

and manner of tobacco product marketing, data from the New York Youth Tobacco Survey finds that youth are being exposed to tobacco product marketing at an alarming rate. The survey data indicate that 85% of high school students were aware of tobacco related ads in convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations or pharmacies in 2014. Awareness of pro-tobacco marketing via the internet was reported by 79% of high school students in 2014; in 2000 only 58% reported awareness of pro-tobacco marketing via the inter-net, a statistically significant increase between 2000 and 2014.

Although NYS youth smoking rates are at their lowest recorded rates, 12,900 youth under 18 become new daily smokers each year and 107,000 NYS high school students currently smoke. To-day, there are now more forms of dangerous products to choose from, and many teens are choosing flavored cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookahs, pipes, and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes/vapor pens). Reality Check youth from across the state agree that their generation de-serves to grow up free from tobacco industry marketing and promotion, but they need help to make that a reality in our communities.

If you would like to learn more about how you can help reduce the negative impact the tobacco marketing has on our community, or learn about other tobacco-related issues, contact the South-ern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition (STTAC) at (607)737-2858 or visit www.sttac.org.

1. https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/ 2. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2012 3. CDC Fact Sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/marketing/ 3. NYS Fact Sheet: https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/reports/statshots/volume9/n2_youth_exposure_to_tobacco_marketing.pdf 4. National Youth Tobacco Survey: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/surveys/nyts/