“Youth Smoking Rates in Washington State has Significantly Decreased, but More Work is Needed.”
The Center Square by Timothy Schumann
The Washington State Department of Health announced $1.3 Million in funding for 11 community-based organizations, to be spent “on youth cannabis and commercial tobacco usage prevention”.
“Nine out of ten smokers begin before the age of 18 and 99 per cent start before the age of 26.” The Department of Health released a news release on Tuesday that stated, “Youth smoking rates have decreased significantly in Washington State but there is still more work to be done.”
The Center Square contacted the Department of Health to inquire about the funding source for the program.
Shelby Anderson, Department of Health spokesperson, said in an email that funding for the Dedicated cannabis Account comes from the Revised Code of Washington 69.50.540.
The funding will be granted and distributed to the organizations during the fiscal years 2023 and 2024. The Department of Health is hoping that these funds “will provide additional funding to a wide group of organizations, while helping to create infrastructure to support tools to prevent youth substance abuse.”
“Empowering communities by recognizing their unique voices, needs, and challenges is one way DOH can help foster effective and meaningful change,” said Department of Health Assistant Secretary for Prevention and Community Health Michele Roberts in the news release. We hope that by providing resources directly to community-based organisations, who each have a better understanding of their populations, we will be able to find new and exciting solutions.
According to the announcement the recipients of the first grant are:
- Foundation for Youth Resilience & Engagement in Omak
- Jefferson Teen Center Chimacum
- Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Centers of Bremerton & Port Townsend
- Lopez Island Family Resource Centre of Lopez Island
- City of Medical Lake
- Mi Chiantla Tumwater
- Oasis Youth Center of Tacoma
- Pacific County Teen Advocacy Coalition of South Bend
- Together Prevent Battle Ground of Battle Ground
- Prosser Thrive Coalition of Prosser
- Unite! Washougal of Washougal
In the news release, it was also stated that community involvement and understanding is “especially important” to youth demographics who are “disproportionately targeted” by commercial tobacco and marijuana industries. This includes both BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Communities.
The news release mentions that the Department of Health “will work with grantees in order to establish mentoring relationships between organizations.” It also closes by mentioning “future grants applications.”
Anderson responded in the affirmative when asked if the program would continue beyond the two-year timeline.
Anderson stated that there are plans to continue this program in the future.
This article was originally published by The Center Square.
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