Maine Youth Action Network

Anti-Tobacco

MYAN aims to connect you with a wide range of organizations and resources on this topic. We recommend that you start your research with the starred (**) organizations. If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact MYAN.

Highlighted Events

Save the date for the 4th Annual Maine Youth Anti-Tobacco Summit on Monday, April 7th & Tuesday, April 8th at the Augusta Civic Center!

Health Policy Partners of Maine Hall of Flags Events
Thursday, January 17th and January 31st, 9am--Hall of Flags
The Health Policy Partners of Maine will be holding two Hall of Flags events.  The Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health will be holding one regarding tobacco and the obesity prevention group will hold one for on nutrition and physical fitness (we will incorporate Fund for a Healthy Maine information into one, or both, of these occasions).  We will have a more formative schedule for these events in the coming weeks, but please put them on your calendar.  They are a great advocacy opportunity!

Smoke Free Movies International Week of Action: Stop Toxic Movies!
February 18-24, 2008

Anti-Tobacco Efforts in the News

Web Resources

**Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine 
http://www.tobaccofreemaine.org/  

Program Manager
MaryBeth Welton 
marybeth.t.welton@maine.gov

Public Health Educator--Youth Prevention & Youth Advocacy Programs, "No Butts" Program
Michelle Ross
Click Here for More Information

Public Health Educator--Secondhand Smoke and Health Disparities
Carol Coles
Click Here for More Information

Public Health Educator--Focus Area- Women and Smoking, Tobacco Industry Tactics, Cessation
Catherine (Cathy) Ramaika
Click Here for More Information 

Public Health Educator--Tobacco Cessation & Treatment
Ellie Sparks
ellie.sparks@maine.gov

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
http://www.ash.org
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a non-profit legal action antismoking organization that has been solely devoted to the many problems of smoking. Its principal activity is to serve as the legal action arm of the nonsmoking community, insuring that the rights of the nonsmoker are protected.

**American Legacy
http://www.americanlegacy.org
Established to reduce youth tobacco use in the United States, American Legacy is dedicated to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit.
 
The American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22542 
The mission of the American Lung Association is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health.
  • Report cards are in and Maine is at the top of the class for the 2nd year in a row. The American Lung Association released its 2006 State of Tobacco Report and the Pine Tree State is the only state that received all A's in the four categories: tobacco prevention and control spending, smoke-free air, cigarettes taxes, and youth access! Find out more by clicking here.
The Bacchus Network
http://www.bacchusgamma.org/  
The BACCHUS Network™ is a university and community based network focusing on comprehensive health and safety initiatives. It is the mission of this 501(C)(3) non-profit organization to promote student and young adult based, campus and community-wide leadership on health and safety issues.

Become An Ex
http://www.becomeanex.org/Blue_Main.aspx
EX s a method of freeing yourself from addiction to tobacco. It was created as a collaborative effort between the American Legacy Foundation and the Mayo Clinic, specifically for people who are really ready to quit and are looking for a better way. If you're ready to try, check out this website!

**Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/  
A great resources to learn about state & federal anti-tobacco initiatives, tobacco research and facts, see tobacco ads, and find ways you and/or your group can take action.

  • Learn about Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids's 2007 Youth Advocates of the Year!
  • Kick Butts Day
    http://www.kickbuttsday.org 
    Kick Butts Day is the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ annual celebration of youth advocacy, leadership and activism. KBD is a day to stand out, speak up and seize control in the fight against tobacco. It is an important opportunity to raise awareness about the tobacco problem and support strong tobacco prevention policies.
Center for Tobacco Independence
http://www.tobaccoindependence.org/ 
The Center for Tobacco Independence (CTI) brings together a team of highly qualified individuals who focus on linking smokers to the most effective methods to quit. Our Center provides direct treatment services, offers consultation for health systems and employers, conducts research, and educates health professionals about tobacco use and dependence & how to help smokers quit.

Don’t Pass Gas
http://www.dontpassgas.org
This website has interesting interactive facts about second-hand smoke.
 
**Ignite
http://www.ignitegeneration.org/portal
Ignite empowers the youth of America to hold the tobacco industry accountable at every level by directing public officials to act responsibly. Ignite engages in local and statewide advocacy for tobacco policy change, pressures politicians to reject campaign contributions from tobacco companies, and informs voters of tobacco issues in key elections.

Infect Truth
http://www.thetruth.com/  
This site includes clips of advertisements seen on TV, as well as facts about tobacco.

Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health
http://www.mcd.org/mcsoh/
MCSOH's goals are to: reduce the number of Maine children who start smoking; increase access to treatment services for those who want to quit using tobacco; protect all Maine citizens from secondhand smoke; protect the Fund for a Healthy Maine; and to reduce the rate of childhood obesity in Maine and diseases related to obesity among children and adults. Their website is a great resource for information on current legislation on tobacco and obesity related issues, and ways to get involved in these efforts.

**Maine Tobacco Helpline
1-800-207-1230
http://www.tobaccofreemaine.org/PDF/25-110-03_hlworks4c.pdf  The HelpLine is for people who are thinking about quitting or who are ready to quit smoking, or for people who want to help a friend or family member quit. Your call to the HelpLine is free and totally confidential.

N-O-T (on Tobacco)
http://www.mainelung.org/learn_with_us/tobacco_control/not_home.htm
N-O-T is a state of the art, school based program designed specifically for teenagers who want to quit smoking.

Resist
http://www.maineresistance.org
Putting youth in contact with other youth in order to resist or quit smoking tobacco products. Interactive website with facts and quizzes, true stories from youth about tobacco, and resources on quitting or helping someone quit.  

Smoke Free for ME
http://www.smokefreeforme.org/ 
The site includes resources about lardlords' rights, tenants' rights, risks of second-hand smoke, and tools for how to go about creating smoke-free housing.

Smoking in Movies--Learn More About Fighting Tobacco On Screen

Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU)
http://www.mainelung.org/learn_with_us/tobacco_control/tatu_home.htm A Peer Teaching Advocacy Program for Youth Empowerment, TATU is designed to help teens develop strong leadership skills, while they influence younger children to live tobacco-free. 

Teen Quit
http://www.teenquit.com
This website includes information and tools specifically for teens to help them quit smoking. There is also information and links for parents and facilitators to support youth as they quit tobacco-use.

Tobacco Facts
http://www.tobaccofacts.org
“We’re not here to tell you what to think or what to do. We’ll just give you the facts about tobacco. The stats, the gross pictures, the people, all real. We don’t need to exaggerate what tobacco does to people, because the loss, the damage and the pain are all real."

What Are You Smoking
http://www.whatareyousmoking.org/Home/ 
Did you know there are over 4,000 chemicals in a single puff of cigarette smoke, and at least 69 of them are known to cause cancer? This site, created by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, educates users about the hazardous incredients in cigarettes. Try your hand at their interactive Haz-Match game that highlights many of the toxic chemicals, join the effort to support federal regulation of tobacco products, and help reduce the toll of tobacco.

World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/en/
WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

Print Resources

  • Download the HMP Youth Activity Resource Guide! (Last updated, September 2007)
  • Advocacy Manual (Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health) 
  • Read the Outdoor Tobacco Smoke Study. This study is the first published in-depth investigation of air pollution levels arising from outdoor smoking activity. The main finding is that exposure levels can be substantial near an active smoker.
  • Maine CVH Policy Inventory
    To assist you or your organization with research of cardiovascular
    health related policies in Maine, the Maine CDC's Cardiovascular Health Program has compiled     lists of laws and regulations in Maine that relat to cardiovascular health that will be updated annually (click the link above and look for the policy tab). The list is organized by the following topics:
    • Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
    • Emergency Medical Services
    • Cardiovascular Health Disparities
    • Health Care Coverage
    • Tobacco
    • Nutrition
    • Physical Activity
    • Diabetes
    • Prescription Drugs
    • Miscellaneous Cardiovascular Health RelatedClick on the following link and then select the "policy" tab on the top.