SEARHC is teaming up with the Sitka HOPE Coalition for a community event to observe World No Tobacco Day.
The organizations will be set up outside AC Lakeside Grocery 4-6 p.m. Friday, May 30, with prize giveaways, quit resources, information on the health harms of smoking and vaping, and a visit from Ciggy Butts to interact with passersby.
This event is part of SEARHC’s year-round commitment to supporting Southeast Alaskans who wish to quit tobacco and raise awareness about smoking and vaping risks, especially among youths.
One in four Alaska high schoolers has used e-cigarettes, and cigarette smoking is more common among American Indian and Alaska Native people than almost any other racial or ethnic group in the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics cite.
‘‘This highlights the critical need for culturally sensitive, accessible cessation resources like the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line,’’ a press release from organizers said.
