Help Your Community by Joining the Alliance to Keep Kids Tobacco Free

 Alliance to Keep Kids Tobacco Free is a coalition that is aimed at preventing youth access to tobacco products.  Every day in the U.S., nearly 4,000 youth under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette.  Currently, the alliance is working in the City of Agoura Hills to address the growing problem of under-aged access to tobacco products.  A Youth Purchase Survey conducted in April, 2012 found that 13.6% of retailers in Agoura Hills were willing to sell tobacco products to youth. 

A recent survey conducted in the Las Virgenes School District by the California Healthy Kids Survey showed that, 17% of 11th graders have smoked part or all of a cigarette.  Only 24% of 11th graders thought smoking occasionally would cause great harm.  In addition, 53% of 11th graders surveyed thought it was very easy to get cigarettes.  These surveys highlights the fact that more needs to be done to prevent youth access to tobacco.

Members of the Alliance are seeking community involvement from Agoura Hills residents, youth, and community organizations to discuss ways to work together to prevent youth access to tobacco.  With your support we can create future generations that are healthier and tobacco free. 

For more information, please contact Coalition Coordinators, Chelsey Leasure at (818) 763-1718 x 401 or cleasure@valleyclinic.org or Tori Curtis at (818) 763-1718 x 311 or vcurtis@valleyclinic.org. To become more involved, mark your calendars for the Alliance to Keep Kids Tobacco Free coalition meeting taking place on Thursday, August 22nd at 6:30pm.  Location: The Vitamin Center of Agoura Hills. Address: 5007 Kanan Road Agoura Hills, CA 91301