Overview of the project
The PACT Mural project is a collaboration between PACT youth and local artist, Armando Silva, to design and paint a mural in Downtown Greeley. The mural represents PACT's message to "protect your future" from tobacco and secondhand smoke.
In Weld County 17% of high school students report smoking cigarettes on one or more days in the past month and nearly half of Colorado youth have tired an e-cigarette.* More work needs to be done to protect the heart, lungs and future of Weld County youth.
Watch the short video above to learn more about the mural project and why it is important for PACT members to protect their future against tobacco and secondhand smoke.
In Weld County 17% of high school students report smoking cigarettes on one or more days in the past month and nearly half of Colorado youth have tired an e-cigarette.* More work needs to be done to protect the heart, lungs and future of Weld County youth.
Watch the short video above to learn more about the mural project and why it is important for PACT members to protect their future against tobacco and secondhand smoke.
Why is this project important?
PACT hopes this mural will remind the community of the importance of smoke and vapor-free environments as they protect the future of Weld County youth by making tobacco use less socially acceptable, setting a healthy example for young people. This is because:
- Studies show communities with strong clean air protections work; youth are less likely to smoke**
- Youth are less likely to begin using tobacco when adults support clean air laws; this shows youth smoking is not accepted***
- Almost half of Colorado youth have used a vaping device. Clean air laws reduce where tobacco can be used and make it less appealing****
References:
* Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, Colorado Department of Health. (2015). Tobacco Use Among Youth In Colorado. Retrieved from: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/PF_Youth_HKCS_Tobacco-Infographic-Digital.pdf
**International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization. (2009). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Smoke Free Policies. IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Vol. 13. Retrieved from http://www.iarc.fr/en/publications/pdfs-online/prev/handbook13/index.php
***Fraley, J.D., Todd, D., et.al. (March 2014). Smoke-Free Parks: A comprehensive review of the policy considerations underlying state and municipal smoke-free parks laws. Respiratory Health Association. Tobacco White Paper Series. Retrieved from http://www.lungchicago.org/site/files/487/148613/490314/698196/RHA_Tobacco_White_Paper_-_Parks.pdf
**** U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006 [accessed 2014 Apr 25].
