Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Oxford County
Youth Helping Youth Quit Tobacco
“Wanna quit?... Wanna cut back?... Don’t wanna start?”
Local teens who are part of an Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services quit smoking campaign are posing these questions to their peers in the second annual In the nic-o-time Challenge.
Beginning February 1, Oxford County teens aged 14-19 who quit using tobacco (including cigarettes, chew, cigars, cigarillos or hookah) for the month of March have a chance at winning $1,000 ultimate entertainment package or a $1,000 ultimate electronics package or, for helping a friend quit, a $50 gift card to the store of their choice. Teens can register for the challenge online at www.quit2win.ca.
Teens can sign up for the In the nic-o-time Challenge in one of three categories:
- Wanna quit: To quit tobacco use for good
- Wanna cut back: To cut back on tobacco use by 50%
- Don’t wanna start: For those who don’t use tobacco and pledge to not start
The challenge is being promoted throughout Oxford County at secondary schools and community locations in the month of February. Teens who are interested in building a healthier Oxford County and who want to support In the nic-o-time in their school can call Oxford County Public Health at 519.539.9800, toll-free 1-800-755-0394, or visit www.quit2win.ca to sign up for the challenge by February 29, 2012 and learn more about the rules and regulations.
Quotes:
“Once teens get hooked on tobacco it is a very difficult addiction to overcome. This is why it’s critical to never start using tobacco products in the first place. The Challenge is not only about quitting, it’s also about reaching out to young people who have never used tobacco and asking them to make a commitment to stay tobacco-free.”
- Abby Bryan-Pulham, Youth Engagement Coordinator
Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services
Quick Facts:
- In the nic-o-time campaign was first launched in 2011 by the What the Health? youth team (a Smoke-Free Ontario-sponsored Youth Engagement Program) at Oxford County Public Health. The program supports teens as they develop health promotion campaigns for other youth. Oxford County’s youth team is part of a network of teams in health units across southwestern Ontario.
- Oxford County’s What the Health? youth team consists of students from each of College Avenue Secondary School, École secondaire Sainte-Marie, Glendale High School, Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute, St. Mary’s Catholic High School and Woodstock Collegiate Institute.
- Having more young people take charge and lead a tobacco-free life will help prevent 44,000 deaths in Canada every year resulting from tobacco-related illness.
Resources:
Media Contact:
Melissa Poulin
Communications & New Media Specialist
Tel: 519 539-9800 ext 3505
Mobile: 519 608-3404
mpoulin@oxfordcounty.ca
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