OC Youth ‘Tune Out Tobacco’

(Santa Ana) – Joe Camel isn’t cool. Although the tobacco industry spends more than $11,000 a minute every day to promote cigarette sales, Orange County youth artists of project “Tune Out Tobacco” are fighting back.

Anti-tobacco themed art, developed to counter advertising efforts of the tobacco industry, will be on display from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 20 at the Orange County Department of Education (OCDC), in room D1001, at 200 Kalmus Drive in Costa Mesa.

Artwork developed by more than 60 students in grades 6-12 will be on display at the Youth Art Exhibition, hosted by the Tobacco Use Prevention Program's (TUPP) "Back That Ash Up" youth coalition. "Tune Out Tobacco” is a project of the Orange County Health Care Agency's TUPP Program that helps youth counter the positive portrayal of tobacco in movies, television, billboards, magazines and window advertisements.

The exhibit will include items previously placed in the community such as a billboard, cinema screen ad and public service announcements.

The goal of the Tobacco Use Prevention Program is to reduce tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in Orange County by mobilizing community organizations and committed individuals. TUPP provides services to county residents through youth, community service and public policy programs. For TUPP information online, visit the Health Care Agency Web site at www.ochealthinfo.com/tupp . For more information on the Youth Art Exhibition or "Tune Out Tobacco" project, call (714) 834-3232.

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