SB Opioid Safety Coalition-World No Tobacco Day

Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition Wants You to #CommitToQuit for this Year’s World No Tobacco Day

Santa Barbara, CA – On May 31st, the Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition (SBOSC), serving all of Santa Barbara County, will be participating in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2021 World No Tobacco Day campaign, #CommitToQuit, to support at least 100 million people as they try to give up tobacco through communities of quitters.

“Commit to Quit” aims to create healthier environments that are conducive to quitting tobacco by advocating for strong tobacco cessation policies; increasing access to cessation services; raising awareness of tobacco industry tactics, and empowering tobacco users to make successful quit attempts.

Tobacco companies have modernized their marketing strategies to continue targeting kids with both traditional tobacco products and more novel products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Young people serve as replacement customers for the more than 8 million people killed by tobacco products worldwide each year.

Despite their loud claims otherwise, the evidence is clear that tobacco companies continue to target kids. From selling gummy bear and cotton candy flavored e-cigarettes to flooding social media with ads for tobacco products, tobacco and e-cigarette companies have adapted their marketing to stand out to today’s youth.

In recent months, the industry has targeted youth by exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to sell more products. In more than 28 countries, tobacco and e-cigarette companies have used social media and other marketing tactics to launch pandemic-themed promotions, undermine minimum age purchase restrictions meant to protect youth and make unproven and illegal health claims. Companies have gone so far as to introduce tobacco-branded face masks and to give away free masks with e-cigarette purchases.

With health experts warning that smoking and vaping can worsen the effects of COVID-19, it is more critical than ever to implement proven strategies to stop the tobacco industry’s harmful practices and save lives. These include tobacco tax increases, 100% smoke-free public places, large illustrated warnings on tobacco products and bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Join the SBOSC and WHO in celebrating World No Tobacco Day. Commit to quit today and sign the pledge.

For more information please visit https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day/world-no-tobacco-day-2021

The Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition (SBOSC) serves all of Santa Barbara County and is a community coalition dedicated to saving lives and preventing opioid misuse through expanding public education and media outreach, enhancing opioid surveillance, preventing overdose and promoting Naloxone distribution, promoting safe disposal practices, encouraging early intervention, and expanding treatment access and recovery.

For more information about the Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition or World No Tobacco Day, you can contact Cindy Loayza at vista@sbclinics.org.