SAFE GC Coalition: World No Tobacco Day 2025

World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is a national event that focuses attention on the global health crisis caused by tobacco use, the world's number one cause of preventable death. It was started in 1987 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and it happens every year on May 31st. Once again, the day was celebrated by Glen Cove Elementary and Middle School students enrolled in SAFE’s Life Skills Training (LST) program with Facilitator- Monica Salinas. LST is conducted via the Glen Cove Youth Bureau’s After 3 Program.

SAFE and Youth Bureau’s Executive Director Spiro Tsirkas have been collaborating annually for WNTD, using materials furnished by the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Lung Association (ALA) to bring youth centered programs to the schools to educate and encourage teens to make their collective voices heard against the marketing tactics by speaking out against the deceptive messages.

Now more than ever, tobacco companies are targeting young people with flashy products in kid-friendly flavors and with aggressive marketing campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram. According to the WHO, children are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in all regions, and an estimated 37 million young people aged 13-15 use tobacco. These trends must not continue – and governments around the world must use every regulatory and policy tool at their disposal to reverse them.

According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) :

• 8.1% (2.25 million) of all students reported current use of tobacco products
  • 10.1% (1.58 million) of high school students reported current use of tobacco products
  • 5.4% (640,000) of middle school students reported current use of tobacco products
• 2.8% of students (760,000) reported current use of any combustible tobacco product
• 3.0% of students (840,000) reported current use of multiple (≥2) tobacco products

The most commonly used tobacco products are: E-Cigarettes (5.9%); Nicotine Pouches (1.8%); Cigarettes (1.4%); Cigars (1.2%); Smokeless Tobacco (1.2%); Other Oral Nicotine Products (1.2%); Heated Tobacco Products (0.8%); Hookahs (0.7%); Pipe Tobacco (0.5%).

Students were educated on the following Tobacco Facts:

• Menthol cigarettes are not less harmful than other cigarettes and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found that they are likely a greater public health risk than non-menthol products.
• E-Cigarettes can be just as harmful as traditional cigarettes • Vaping Liquid often contains tobacco which is highly addictive • More than half of the youth 54% ages 12-17 smoke menthol • Scientific evidence shows that tobacco companies advertising promotes and influences young people to start using tobacco products
• The average age of a new smoker in NYS is just 13 • Even brief exposure to second-hand smoke can cause asthma attacks • Even small amounts of second-hand smoke can cause a heart attack. • Air near an outdoor smoker can be 50-times more toxic than surrounding air
• E-cigarette cartridges, such as JUUL pods, are single-use products that contain plastic, electronic and chemical waste and many of them may also end up as litter. Inexpensive, flavored disposable e-cigarettes such as Puff Bar.
• Young people are twice as likely as adults to recall tobacco advertising, and it makes them more likely to smoke

Students were taught the importance of doing their part in advocating to their peers to be guardians of our natural resources, marine and wildlife and to “Live SAFE” by protecting themselves and the public from harmful second-hand smoke.

For help Quitting smoking or vaping or to help a loved one beat a Nicotine Addition please visit the American Lung Association on their Website at: www.american lung.org. “The American Lung Association says the only thing that should go into your lungs is clean air, so if you’re inhaling anything, it could potentially be toxic to your lungs! The New York State Smokers’ Quitline assists thousands of New Yorkers every year in their attempts to break free from smoking and other tobacco and the service is free and confidential. Call 1-866-NYQUITS (1-866-697-8487) or visit them at: https://www.nysmokefree.com/ for Quit Help.

SAFE, Inc. is the only alcohol and substance abuse prevention, intervention, and education agency in the City of Glen Cove. The Coalition is concerned about all combustible and electronic products with marijuana and tobacco. The Agency employs environmental strategies to educate and update the community regarding the negative consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow www.facebook.com/safeglencove or to learn more about electronic products visit the Vaping Facts and Myths Page of SAFE’s website to learn more about how vaping is detrimental to your health www.safeglencove.org.