KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - On March 31, young people from all over King County are joining thousands of youth across the country who are taking part in Kick Butts Day, a nationwide initiative that makes kids leaders in the effort to stop youth tobacco use through creative, smoke-free events.

"Our energetic youth are local leaders in preventing the use of tobacco and protecting their peers from the harmful effects of tobacco," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Our community is making significant progress in our fight against tobacco."

"Kids are the tobacco industry's number one target for their addictive, harmful product," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "Young people are joining together because they are tired of seeing their friends and family addicted to tobacco and getting sick."

"Youth are taking control of their lives, thinking critically about tobacco advertising and deciding to live free from tobacco," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. In Washington State between 1999 and 2002, smoking among 10th graders decreased 40% and among 12th graders 36%.

"The tobacco companies make smoking look cool in their ads, but that's nothing but a lie," said Veronica Le Cocq, a former Franklin high school student. "There's nothing cool about bad breath, smelly clothes and tobacco-stained teeth."

Elementary, middle and high school students across the country are organizing Kick Butts Day events to fight youth tobacco use. March 31 activities in King County include:

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people every year. Every day, more than 4,000 kids try their first cigarettes; another 2,000 kids become addicted smokers, one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result.

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