Mississippi youth in Lincoln County will join youth from other states, and even countries all across the world on March 18 to voice their opposition to big tobacco companies during 2015 Kick Butts Day.

Kick Butts Day is a national day for activism when thousands of youth around the world will speak out and stand up to the tobacco industry. As part of this year’s Kick Butts Day celebration, the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Copiah and Lincoln Counties is working with students at Lipsey Middle School to help empower youth to speak up and take action.

“Kick Butts Day is an opportunity for participating youth to become a leader in their community and among their peers by speaking out against the influences to use tobacco products. Kick Butts Day may only come once a year but, our hope is that every day will be Kick Butts Day in the fight against tobacco.” said Lori Carter, Director of the Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition of Copiah and Lincoln Counties.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing approximately 480,000 people every year. This is more than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined. Each year, 3,300 Mississippi kids under the age of 18 become new, daily smokers and 68,000 Mississippi kids now under 18 will ultimately die prematurely from smoking, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

“Mississippi’s youth play a critical role in helping to reduce adolescent tobacco use in our state,” said Roy Hart, Director of the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control. “Whether it’s through educating peers face to face or by sharing messages through social media, research shows us that teens listen to other teens – the people they trust and look up to. Their influence is vital in sending two very important messages: increase the awareness of tobacco use in their community and urge elected leaders to do more to protect them from tobacco companies.”

Through MSDH’s local tobacco-free coalitions, young activists take part in a variety of tobacco prevention activities throughout the school year, including working with elected leaders to develop policies that reduce youth tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke and educating their peers about the risks of tobacco use.

For more information about Kick Butts Day events in Lincoln County or for tobacco cessation information, contact the Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition of Copiah and Lincoln Counties at 601-540-1234, visit www.tobaccofreems.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MSTobaccoFree.