CVS Health #BeTheFirst Campaign Announcement
Published: March 14, 2016
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,800 children under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette and more than 2,100 youth and young adults who have experimented with cigarettes become new regular, daily smokers. Additionally, 40.6% of children between the ages of 3 and 11 years old and 33.8% of kids 12-19 in the United States are exposed to cigarette smoke regularly
Please join CVS Health in our goal in making today’s youth the first generation to be tobacco-free through our #BeTheFirst campaign, which launched this morning. As part of this announcement, we have pledged $50 million to deliver the first tobacco-free generation.
We all know the short and long term health risks attributed to tobacco use, especially by youth in our multi-cultural, LGBT and underserved communities. Since you too are a key partner and champion of tobacco avoidance and first line of offense in driving positive health behaviors in your own community, I hope you will join us in sharing the value and excitement in helping us curb this national epidemic.
Attached is a communications toolkit you are welcome to leverage to help promote the #BeTheFirst campaign to your clients and constituents.
Thank you for the tremendous work you do in helping people on a path to better health.
Announcement Brief with Video
Full Press Release 3/10/2016