London, ON – The Middlesex-London Health Unit’s One Life One You team is joining forces with about 50 teens and youth from the eight health units that make up the Southwest Tobacco Control Area Network (SW TCAN) to celebrate World No Tobacco Day tomorrow. This year’s celebration will be held at Tecumseh Park in Chatham, where the One Life One You and youth from the SW TCAN will take part in the Chatham-Kent Youth Festival.

The youth have planned a full slate of games and activities that highlight their theme: “91 Reasons Why 91% of Youth Don’t Smoke.” The theme originated in Oxford County in 2013 and is based on the reverse statistic from the 2011 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, which stated that 9% of Ontario students in grades 7 to 12 reported smoking at least one cigarette, or smoking occasionally, during the last 12 months. More recently the theme has formed the basis of a social media campaign on Twitter (@MLHealthunit; #91reasons) that has counted down the 91 days leading up to World No Tobacco Day on May 31st.

“Our 91 Reasons campaign aims to teach people that there are a multitude of reasons to be tobacco-free,” says Emily Clayton, a Youth Leader with One Life One You. “We need to change the misperception that smoking rates among teens are really high. The reality is that only nine percent of youth actually smoke, so we want to promote and encourage the many reasons why more youth are choosing a tobacco-free lifestyle.”

Each May 31st the World Health Organization and its partners around the world celebrate World No Tobacco Day. The global goal is to raise awareness about the health risks associated with using tobacco, what people can do to reduce tobacco consumption and how individuals can protect themselves from the health risks associated with exposure to tobacco use.

One Life One You is a group of youth employed by the Middlesex-London Health Unit who advocate to their peers about the dangers of tobacco product use and how the industry targets youth. One Life One You also offers interactive, peer-to-peer educational activities aimed at encouraging youth to lead healthier lives. Additional information can be found by visiting the One Life One You page on the Middlesex-London Health Unit's website.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)

Spokesperson:
Linda Stobo, Program Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Middlesex-London Health Unit

Emily Clayton, Youth Leader, One Life One You, Middlesex-London Health Unit