OOY Tobacco Clean Up Events
By: Orange County Office on Youth
Did you know cigarette trash makes up more than one - third or nearly 38 % of all collected litter? Cigarette butts release arsenic and lead into the environment that often contaminates water sources according to The National Institute of Health. Ninety - eight percent of cigarette filters are made with plastic fibers (cellulous acetate) that are not biodegradable. A recent study, referenced by the National Library of Medicine, found that a cigarette butt was only about 38% decomposed after two years. Through the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Tobacco Grant Fund monies, the Office on Youth (OOY) averages two litter clean up events annually: one in the Town of Gordonsville and the other in the Town of Orange. As this event enters its third year, Orange County ’ s Youth Council continues to engage the community on the harmful effects of tobacco and cigarettes. Last year, the youth picked up over 6,700 cigarette butts in the towns of Orange and Gordonsville.
Additionally, the OOY through their Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth grant works with teens to stop smoking and vaping with the “ this is quitting ” program app. The program provides 12 free weeks of support to help teens stop smoking and vaping where youth can text in and receive intervention. Thirty - one youth have subscribed to this program.
Orange is one of two localities piloting this program, saving healthcare dollars.
Additional campaigns made possible by the grant are the Take Down Tobacco Day Art Contest, pledging to be tobacco free on National Take Down Tobacco Day, and PSA ’ s on the radio bringing awareness to the tobacco problem in our community. Take Down Tobacco Art Contest participants were honored for their commitment and creative art submissions at the Board of Supervisors ’ meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The 2023 winners of the contest are Rachelle Lucia Rogers (8 th grade, PHMS) and Maritza Beltran (11 th grade, OCHS) (pictured to the right). For more information on the Orange County Office on Youth ’ s partnership with the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth contact Robyn Chapman, grant program manager, at rchapman@orangecountyva.gov or (540) 672 - 5484.
Page 19 | May, 2023
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