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ACS CAN Colorado Cancer Summit Highlights Youth E-cigarette Epidemic

Youth Tobacco Prevention in the 21st Century: Time to Take Charge – E-cigarettes Impact Our Youth and Communities

October 31, 2018

DENVER, Colo--The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Colorado hosts its annual policy forum just days before the November 2018 election. That’s one reason why this year’s event focuses on how elected officials can help prevent the next generation of Coloradans from a potential lifetime tobacco addiction.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Colorado, causing nearly 30 percent of all cancers. This year, 5,100 Colorado residents will die from smoking. Equally as alarming is the rising rate of e-cigarette use among youth. According to a recent CDC study, roughly 26 percent of Colorado high schoolers use e-cigarettes, which is the highest out of the 38 states surveyed and twice the national average. 

On Thursday, November 1, a panel of experts will focus on youth tobacco prevention for the 21st century, examining the next critical opportunities to protect Colorado’s kids from Big Tobacco, including:

  • Updating the state’s clean indoor air law to include e-cigarettes;
  • Establishing a statewide licensing program for tobacco retailers, including e-cigarette retailers, that combines strict enforcement to prevent underage sales;
  • Raising the legal sales age for all tobacco products including e-cigarettes to 21;
  • Increasing the price of all tobacco products including e-cigarettes through strong tobacco tax increases 

WHAT:           Colorado Cancer Summit: Youth Tobacco Prevention in the 21st Century 2.0

­­­­­­­­WHEN:           Thursday, November 1, 2018; 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

WHERE:         Courtyard Marriott – Skyline Ballroom; 1475 South Colorado Blvd., Denver 80222

PANELISTS:  Jonathan Samet, M.D., MS, dean, Colorado School of Public Health

                      Bill Burman, M.D., MSPH, director, Denver Public Health
                      Jodi Jalving, Director, Rocky Mountain/Great Plains, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
                      Gabriel Kaplan, Ph.D., MPH, chief of Health Promotions and Chronic Disease Prevention, Colorado  Department of Public Health and Environment 

RSVP:             www.fightcancer.org/coloradobreakfast. This event is free and open to the public. 

About ACS CAN

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

 

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