On August 14, the state of Washington announced that 11 community organizations have received a total of $1.3 million in grants to support youth marijuana and commercial tobacco use prevention programs.
Michele Roberts, assistant secretary for prevention and Community Health at the Department of Health, said:
“We want to provide resources directly to these community organizations, each with a deeper understanding of their population, that will lead to new and exciting solutions.”
According to the Department of Health, community engagement and understanding are critical for affected People of Color (BIPOC) and youth in the LGBTQ+ community who are disproportionately targeted by the commercial tobacco and marijuana industries.
A press release from the department revealed that nine out of 10 smokers started smoking before the age of 18, and 99 percent started before the age of 26. While the percentage of teens who smoke has dropped significantly, the Washington State Department of Health says more work is needed.
The department also plans to work with grant recipients to build mentoring relationships between organizations. The goal is to help new and developing programs gain skills that support the organization’s growth and expansion to impact youth and future grant applications.
References:
【1】$1.3 million contributed to prevent cannabis and tobacco product use by teens