Frankfort, Ky. (April 9, 2004) -- The Kentucky Department for Public Health, through the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, is providing funding to encourage tobacco free sporting events and programs for community youth. The department has awarded nearly $40,000 in grants to provide money for the Tobacco Free Sports Program.

Tobacco Free Sports is a youth oriented program to combat the growing number of Kentucky teenagers who begin using tobacco each year. Fifteen grants have been awarded statewide this spring. In addition to providing information about the health hazards of tobacco use, the program will emphasize the importance of daily physical activity and good nutrition. The goals on this year’s agenda are:

The 2002 Kentucky Youth Tobacco Survey reported middle school tobacco use at 15 percent and high school usage at 34 percent. Both rates are well in excess of the national averages of 11 percent and 28 percent respectively.

Local tobacco coordinators, working with coaches and civic organizations, will inform participants about tobacco use and healthy lifestyle choices during team meetings. Coaches and participants agree to sign a pledge card to remain tobacco free. Last year’s program hosted 4,500 participants; projections for this year are 6,500 participants statewide.

Each grant of $2,650 is used to purchase educational materials and other items, such as T-shirts, with health messages.

"This program is a valuable asset to Kentucky’s goal of decreasing tobacco use among our youth. Surveys of our youth indicate that cigarette smoking is well established by the 8^{th grade," according to Dr. James S. Davis, director of Adult and Child Health in the department. "This makes it all the more important to educate young people about healthy lifestyle choices."}

"It’s important that our kids recognize the impact smoking has on their physical health and athletic performance," said Dr. Rice Leach, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health. "Smoking slows lung growth, decreases lung function, and reduces the oxygen available for muscles used in sports. Smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost three times more often than nonsmokers and they spend a lot of money on a bad habit."

Tobacco Free Sports, now in its fourth year in Kentucky, is available in most of the state’s 56 health service areas. Some of the local partners who assist in the program include parks and recreation departments, Little League, YMCA Soccer, and Kentucky Youth Soccer Association as well as school athletic programs.

CDC research indicates that students who participate in interscholastic sports are less likely to be regular and heavy smokers. The lower rates of smoking for student athletes may be related to:

Agencies and organizations that support the tobacco-free sports movement include the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), National Cancer Institute, National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, National SAFE KIDS Campaign, International Olympic Committee, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and many other sports leagues and youth organizations.

For more information about the Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, log onto http://chs.ky.gov/publichealth/tobacco.htm or contact Irene Centers at 502-564-7996, extension 3808.

The health departments participating in Tobacco Free Sports are: