Agoura High Kicks Butts

took a stand against big tobacco companies on Wednesday as part of national Kick Butts Day.

The Alliance to Keep Kids Tobacco Free of Agoura Hills hosted the event during lunch as a stance against how tobacco companies market to young people, according to Debra Levi, program director for the Tobacco Prevention Program at Valley Community Clinic out of North Hollywood.

"The tobacco companies need to market to young people in order to survive," said Levi. "We've found that three out of four kids start smoking by the time they're 18."

The coalition displayed a three-dimensional poster board illustrating several of the more than 4,000 harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke. The Alliance also asked the students and faculty to sign a Tobacco-free Graffiti Memorial Pledge Wall on which they pledged to help their friends and family quit, write messages in memory of loved ones lost and tell the tobacco industry to stop targeting kids as “replacement customers.” 

Levi quoted some actual comments made by major tobacco companies. "The one that stands out most to me was made by the Lorillard Tobacco Company. They said, 'The base of our business is the high school student.' Another was made by Philip Morris which stated, 'If you catch [students] they'll stick to you like glue,'" she said.

The purpose of the event, which is in its 17th year nation-wide, is to make students aware of what tobacco companies are doing as well as to urge elected officials to protect kids from these lethal products, said Levi.

According to Levi, this year received the largest turn-out in five years with over 1,100 events across the country.

"Parents should be aware of how these companies are selling to kids," she said. Currently, the offerings include cigarillos–small, cigar-like cigarettes–which are flavored to appeal to young people.

"What's important to keep in mind is that these items are very easy to obtain by young people," Levi said.

For more information on the Valley Community Clinic program, contact Debra Levi at 818-301-6311 or dlevi@valleyclinic.org.