RAI’s youth tobacco use reduction program attracts strong support

Initiatives by Reynolds American Inc. and its operating companies to reduce youth tobacco use and access attracted strong support from delegates at the recent annual conference of the National Foundation For Women Legislators (NFWL) in Atlanta.

‘A team led by Pamela Gorman, a senior manager in RAI public affairs, attended the four-day conference and hosted an exhibit featuring R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Right Decisions Right Now (RDRN) evidence-based youth tobacco prevention program,’ according to a note posted on RAI’s website.

‘Gorman also led a round-table discussion entitled “21st Century Tools To Reduce Youth Tobacco Use: Is Your State Equipped?” and gave a presentation on the need to expand educational and legislative efforts to further reduce youth tobacco use and access.

‘NFWL’s policy committee adopted a resolution on youth tobacco prevention, and committed to continuing the dialogue on this issue with its members.

‘The resolution encouraged “every state to declare that evidence-based youth tobacco prevention education is an important part of meaningful health education for every student.”

‘NFWL thanked the RAI team for their participation in the conference, which was attended by elected women from across the country representing all levels of government.’

“We are eager to work with you on the issues you care about because as we’ve seen from how well the issue forums at this year’s conference were received – our elected women care about the very same issues,” NFWL said in a letter to Gorman.

“This was a great opportunity to highlight our youth tobacco prevention efforts and we’ll be following up with legislators who expressed interest in helping us to accelerate the decline in youth tobacco use,” Gorman said.

“It was encouraging to hear that some of the legislators were even interested in personally teaching the RDRN curriculum in their schools.”