Archive Index / Tobacco Prevention Education Goes High-Tech (posted: 11/3/11)

Source: Volusia County Health Department
Contact: Stefany Strong, Public Information Officer

 

DAYTONA BEACH - In an effort to provide the youth of public housing information about the harmful effects of tobacco, the Volusia County Health Department is teaming up with the Daytona Beach Housing Authority to use the internet to spread the message of the dangers of tobacco use.

"We are excited about this opportunity because this is the first time we are providing tobacco education in this high-tech format," said Rakinya Hinson, MPH, Tobacco Prevention manager. “The youth will receive eight one hour classes on the third Thursday of each month until May 2012.”

Students with the Housing Authority’s Neighborhood Network Center will participate in a live chat and instruction via webcam on the center’s learning channel at www.ustream.tv. Students will be able to ask questions in a live chat format.

According to the Florida Department of Health, there are 88 tobacco related deaths in Florida daily. In a study done by the Food and Drug Administration, 52 percent of youth smokers between the ages of 13 and 18 years old who had heard of flavored cigarettes reported interest in trying them, and nearly 60 percent thought that flavored cigarettes would taste better than regular cigarettes.

“Whether youth and adults are accessing information on their iphones, ipads, or other tablets of choice, they want access to information and this program offers that,” said Pierre Louis, director of the Daytona Neighborhood Network Centers. “This creative partnership allows us to offer tobacco prevention education over the internet from one location to another in an after school tutoring format that would hopefully help improve the health of our community.”

Daytona Neighborhood Networks Centers are multi-service learning centers, that are located in public housing offering a variety of resources such as GED classes, Digital Literacy classes for seniors, online resume writing courses, Financial Literacy classes, Small Business Development/Microenterprise (through Central Florida Community Development Corporation) and access to file for Cash and Food Assistance.

The centers are located in the following places:

• Pine Haven, 101 Carl Brinkley Circle, Daytona Beach
• Palmetto Park, 704 Hawk St., Daytona Beach
• Northwood Village, 1200 Ninth St., Holly Hill

The information provided during these sessions comes from the Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention Program.