Mallory Haskins, 16, of DeRuyter, helps a trick-or-treater with a game focused on showing similarities between tobacco and candy packaging.
(Madison County, NY – Nov. 2014) On Thursday Oct. 30 Reality Check members and Sue Casanova, of the Bridges Tobacco Prevention Program of Madison County, were at Sangertown Mall for Malloween, a trick-or-treating event for families. Teen leaders from Madison, Oneida, Herkimer, Cayuga, Onondoga, and Oswego counties set up several displays depicting the initiatives Reality Check and the Tobacco Prevention Program are currently working on.
Reality Check teen leaders from across the state work on reducing youth exposure to tobacco marketing in stores and on screen. Just this year they began working on tobacco free parks and playgrounds.
Attendees could sign a letter to Hollywood, asking to have smoking kept out of movies meant for kids or take a photo holding a sign with anti-tobacco messaging for social media. A Smoke Free Cardboard home was on hand for toddlers to color and several games illustrating the way the tobacco industry uses teen friendly marketing techniques. With over 480,000 Americans dyng each year from tobacco related illness, displays like this one are imperative to mobilize community member around the issue.
Madison Hysell, 13, of Madison sad she is glad to be a part of this event.
“This was the first year I was able to be a part of this and I am glad I am,” Hysell said. “I want to help young people become aware of the way the tobacco industry markets to them so hopefully they can avoid becoming smokers. Smoking is a deadly habit.”
If you are aged 13-18 and want to be a part of Reality Check, are interested in becoming an anti-tobacco advocate, or would like to learn more please contact Heather Bernet at 315-727-6296 or visit our website, realitycheckofny.com.