Buffalo County Tobacco Free Coalition
Recognizes Red Ribbon Week
(Kearney) – Red Ribbon Week is celebrated to show support for healthy, drug-free communities and lifestyles. This year’s 26th annual Red Ribbon Week is October 23-31.
To help commemorate Red Ribbon Week, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Tobacco Free Nebraska program has updated its Tobacco Free Times publication.
The Tobacco Free Times publication targets 4th and 5th grade students. It’s designed as a fun and interactive resource to engage students, while also informing them about the dangers of tobacco use. The Times was originally produced in 2005 and last updated in 2007. This year’s edition is available electronically at: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/tfn/TFTimes11.pdf and can be used either in its entirety or as individual pages.
“Tobacco is considered a gateway drug, meaning it’s often the first drug used by kids who use alcohol and other illegal drugs like marijuana and cocaine,” said Jenny Brown, Buffalo County Tobacco Free Coordinator. “We know that if we can keep kids from starting to use tobacco when they’re younger they’ll have a better chance of living a drug-free life.”
The Buffalo County Tobacco Free Coalition is a collaborative effort that focuses on keeping youth from starting to use tobacco, reducing access to tobacco products, and increasing awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke. It’s funded by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services/Tobacco Free Nebraska Program as a result of the tobacco master settlement agreement.
For more information on tobacco prevention activities in Buffalo County, please contact 308-237-5113 or jbrown@region3.net.