LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 1, 2016) – The Tobacco Free Living Action Team of the Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership is conducting a Town Hall Series on underage tobacco and e-cigarette use. The Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership is a community-driven coalition of partners working to address health issues in St. Mary’s County.

While selling tobacco to youth under the age of 18 is illegal, nine out of ten smokers start smoking by the age of 18. According to data collected through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 19 percent of St. Mary’s County high school students use tobacco; higher than state and national averages. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.

The community is invited to participate in a two-part community conversation to discuss the harms and effects of underage tobacco use, information on state and local regulations, myths and facts surrounding e-cigarettes, and strategies to reduce tobacco use among youth.

Guest speaker, William Tilburg, Deputy Director of the Legal Resource Center for Public Health Policy based at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, will provide a presentation for Part 1 of the Town Hall Series on February 23.

The Town Hall Series is scheduled for the following dates to discuss:

• Part 1: February 23, 2016 – “Underage Tobacco Use”
• Part 2: April 21, 2016 – “E-Cigarette Use”

Both Town Hall conversations will be held at the Lexington Park Library from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

For more information about the Town Hall Series, please call 301-475-4391 or visit the Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership website.

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