On a recent Sunday, members of the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN) FACT group, part of Wisconsin’s youth-led tobacco prevention movement, joined a national conversation about how menthol tobacco products impact the health of African-Americans.  “No Menthol Sunday,” an interfaith observance day, called upon faith leaders and others in the community to discuss the fact that each year 45,000 African Americans die from smoking-related diseases. Nearly nine in ten of these smokers use menthol cigarettes.

That day FACT youth and their adult advisors fanned out across the city, visiting seven churches to help spread the word about how tobacco companies successfully, to the detriment of our community’s health, targeted the African-American community with deadly menthol products.  

“I was so happy to be a part of it. My FACT group and I spoke to the congregation and got the chance to work with a group of kids on an activity called “We are not a replacement,” said WAATPN FACT member Kayla McPike.

FACT teens also reminded church goers that it is everyone’s responsibility to take a grassroots stance to protect their health and help our next generation become tobacco-free. To join the youth-led tobacco prevention movement or to learn more about or join FACT, visit Factmovement.org.