Issue:
Tobacco Control

Willow Peterson – Junior at Montana State University Billings
Tobacco prevention and education work has been a major focus point in my life for seven years. In 8th grade, I joined my local tobacco prevention club. As I started high school, my classmates began to use tobacco products. Some of my close family members and friends got addicted to nicotine at a very young age. Seeing them cough until vomiting, having trouble breathing, and using any means to feed their addiction had a powerful impact on me. It hurt me to see them abuse an addictive product that would negatively impact their physical and mental health. As a result, I became a passionate health advocate.
I have had the great honor of working with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. As a sophomore in high school, I was chosen to represent Montana in their annual Youth Advocacy Symposium. I was flown out to Washington D.C. to work with other passionate youth from around the country. This program consists of a week of in-depth training from professionals and opportunities to talk to legislators at the federal level. I met with Senator Jon Tester to discuss how flavored tobacco is negatively impacting the lives of teens and young adults in Montana. I was asked to return in 2017 and 2018. This year, I joined as a Young Adult Ambassador. With help from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, I had the amazing opportunity to talk about my advocacy work in an interview with our local news station.
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GUEST BLOG: “How Can Something That Tastes So Good, Be Bad For Me?”
Hi everyone, Hannah here! This month, I wanted to chat with you about something we are all seeing in the headlines – vaping and teens. Specifically, vape “juice” flavors (funny how the industry refers to the chemicals they use to create these flavors as “juice” – makes it sound like it’s healthy doesn’t it?) and how they are used to attract teens to e-cigarettes.
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Help Us Create a Smokefree Idaho
In Idaho, smoking rates have remained relatively stable for the last few years, until 2016, when we saw an increase in the number of adults identifying as current smokers over previous years. Currently, 14.5% of Idaho adults smoke traditional tobacco cigarettes, but with the growing availability and diversity of electronic cigarette and vaping devices, we have already seen an increase in teen use and expect this will be reflected in the adult population as well.
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AHA's Leadership in Advocacy Award goes to Richard Veilleux
Well deserved award for phenomenal AHA volunteer, Richard Veilleux.
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Meet New AHA Advocate Geralyn Laut
Trained as a health educator and certified as both a prevention professional and a tobacco treatment specialist, it is not surprising that much of my work over the years has leaned heavily on the age-old adage ... "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
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We are inspired by you. Tell us your story.
AHA Maine is looking for stories. Will you share yours?
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Andy DeLoreto, Rhode Island
Andy recently testified at the State House on the American Heart Association's Tobacco 21 proposal.
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Dan Moran, An Advocate with Heart
An American Heart Association volunteer for more than fifteen years, Dan Moran knows a thing or two about advocacy.
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Meet Erin E. Herring
November 18, 1998 was the day Erin E. Herring started on her journey into the world of physicians, hospitals and fear; that was the day her son Gavin was born.
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