Amarillo's most active tobacco prevention campaign got the go ahead for next year's funding
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Amarillo's hospital district funding priorities committee met on Tuesday and will recommend to the finance board to go ahead and fund next years financial needs for the area's most active tobacco prevention campaign.
The campaign needs around two hundred seventy thousand dollars for next year's operations. The funds will go to help prevent tobacco use among the youth of Amarillo and the surrounding area.
Over the past several years there has been major decreases in tobacco use among 6th through 9th graders. The average experimentation age has increased from 11 years old to 14 years old, a stat much better than the state and federal averages.
"Statistics show us that if kids don't start smoking by the time they're 19, chances are they never will, so if we can hammer home that message to our kids while they're in school getting the basic education for everything else, we can prevent future tobacco use thus preventing future indigent care costs for smoking related illness," said Megan Williams, Director of Tobacco free Amarillo.
Right now 97% of all 6th graders have not tried tobacco here in Amarillo, which is proof the campaign has been working.
The funding decision now goes to the hospital finance board, then to the hospital board, and on to the city commission for final approval.
