Quincy youth to participate in Honk and Wave event March 31

Quincy youth will be taking part in a  “Honk and Wave” event on March 31, joining young people across the country in marking Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action, a nationwide movement to stand up and speak out against the tobacco industry.

Students will be rallying at the busy Quincy High School intersection with posters encouraging community members to support them as they call for change and action.

In particular, youth and health advocates are exposing how the tobacco industry continues to target and addict kids with flavored, nicotine-loaded products, and they’re calling on federal, state and local officials to protect kids by banning the sale of all flavored tobacco products.

The tobacco industry has targeted kids and other vulnerable groups with flavored products like flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Flavors improve the taste and mask the harshness of tobacco products, making it easier for kids to try these products and ultimately become addicted.

While the United States has made great progress in reducing youth tobacco use, the latest government survey shows that 3.1 million U.S. middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including over 2.5 million who use e-cigarettes. Research has found that about 80 percent of youth tobacco users use flavored products.