Pike County ‘Busted!' teens win national competition

WESTFALL — Youth from Pennsylvania’s 10-county Northeast Health District are participating in National Kick Butts Day with local events in their schools and community. The Pike County “Busted!” group submitted an entry into the Kick Butts Day public service announcement contest and was selected as one of four National Finalists! Debra Brodhecker, Prevention Coordinator, Pike County Penn State Cooperative Extension states, “Our TATU club at Delaware Valley High School put their talents together about the devastating effects of tobacco use to enter the national competition. Team members came up with a plan and enthusiastically produced their PSA. The students were thrilled to learn that their hard work paid off and that their film clip was chosen as a National merit finalist. “For this honor, the students will be awarded $200.00 and the PSA was posted on www.kickbuttsday.org and sent out to TV stations on National Kick Butts Day, March 25. “It will also be shown at the annual Youth Advocates of the Year Awards gala in Washington, DC in May.” Brodhecker said. It was also broadcast the PSA throughout the school district on Kick Butts Day,” Kick Butts Day empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. It is a national day of activism that empowers youth to take action against Big Tobacco at more than 2,000 events from coast to coast. For more information on Kick Butts Day, visit www.kickbuttsday.org. Youth, especially teens, who are members of the statewide advocacy program, BUSTED! or youth prevention program, Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU), created events to educate their peers and younger children about tobacco industry deception and marketing practices which entice them to start using tobacco. See the video To view the national finalist public service announcement on YouTube, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7xjX35DOXk . Tobacco Free Northeast oversees all tobacco programming in the Northeast Health District 10- county region. It is administrated by the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Valley at Lehigh Valley Health Network and is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Visit www.tobaccofreene.com .