TOBACCO FREE AMARILLO

CONTACT: Mary Coyne, 374-5333 October 31, 2001
TfreeAmarillo.com

Tobacco Free Amarillo Is Set To "Free Amarillo"
From Death and Disease Caused by Tobacco
-- Amarillo Hospital District Funds Effort With $400,000 --

(AMARILLO, TX) A community-wide coalition, called Tobacco Free Amarillo, today kicks off a wide array of activities for the coming year with the goal to "free Amarillo from lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and all other diseases caused by tobacco use."

The Amarillo Hospital District is funding the comprehensive tobacco control program with a $400,000 grant. The Amarillo Hospital District is the first hospital district in the state to use tobacco settlement funds for a comprehensive tobacco control program.

Amarillo has one of the highest rates of both youth and adult smoking in Texas, according to the most recent figures available. Smoking rates are 31% of Amarillo high school students -- approximately 2,300 youth -- and 29% of Amarillo adults. In comparison, Texas' overall adult rate is 22.4%, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nevada, with the highest adult rate in the U.S., is 31.5%. Texas' youth smoking rate stands at 28%.

The grant period began Oct. 1, with the first month dedicated to baseline research to determine attitudes and behavior regarding tobacco among youth and adults. Community-wide programs begin on Nov. 1 and continue through Sept. 30, 2001. The target area is Amarillo and Potter County.

Tobacco Free Amarillo is based on a successful program conducted last year in East Texas by the Texas Department of Health. The program is research-based and proven effective because of the interaction of several activities working in the community simultaneously.

Tobacco Free Amarillo includes an evaluation component and five other components to reach throughout the community wherever tobacco use can be battled: school programs, community programs, law enforcement, media and cessation programs. Objectives of the program are to prevent youth from initiation of tobacco use and to encourage adults to quit smoking or using spit tobacco.

In addition to the City of Amarillo and the Amarillo Hospital District, partners for this community-wide coalition include The American Cancer Society as fiscal agent, Amarillo College, Amarillo Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Amarillo Independent School District, Amarillo Police Department, Bushland Independent School District, CableRep Advertising, Clear Channel Communications, Cumulus Broadcasting Inc., Harrington Cancer Center, Highland Park Independent School District, Holy Cross Catholic Academy, KFDA/Telemundo, KGNC Radio, KVII/The WB, Lamar Advertising Co., McCormick Company, NBC4/Fox14/UPN65, Planned Parenthood, Potter County Sheriff's Department, Randall County Sheriff's Department, Region 16 Education Service Center, River Road Independent School District, Rodriguez Communications, Texas Tech School of Pharmacy, Wesley Community Center and West Texas A&M University.

For more information, see the Tobacco Free Amarillo Web site at TFreeAmarillo.com or call Alonzo Peterson, project director, at (806) 353-4306.