Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Funds Campaign to Help Teens Live Tobacco- Free

Program Targets 16,000 Students at 27 Michigan High Schools

    DETROIT, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- An anti-smoking campaign aimed at
 16,000 Michigan high school students, enabling them to participate in
 awareness programs and engage in peer advocacy, has been funded by Blue
 Cross Blue Shield of Michigan through the 2007-08 school year. The start of
 the campaign is timely as the nation focuses on smoking cessation during
 the Great American Smokeout(R) on Nov. 15.
     "Encouraging teens to live tobacco-free is part of our comprehensive
 program to improve the health of all Michigan residents," said Lynda Rossi,
 Blues vice president of public policy and social mission. "We want to do
 all we can to prevent youngsters from facing serious health conditions
 later on in life. Blues efforts to improve the health of young people range
 from tackling teen tobacco use to our commitment to the state's MIChild
 program, which provides health and dental coverage to eligible children."
     High school students are a key group in which to reduce the harmful
 effects of tobacco use, smoking and secondhand smoke. According to the 2004
 Michigan Youth Tobacco Survey, 80 kids try their first cigarette in
 Michigan every day and another 50 become daily smokers. It also shows that
 17 percent of high school students are smokers.
     High schools participating in the Blues program have chosen from a
 variety of activities to promote smoke-free environments. Some students are
 creating coupon books giving discounts at smoke-free restaurants or
 presenting plaques honoring those restaurants. Others are conducting
 surveys of smoke-free apartment buildings and hope to encourage apartment
 owners to launch smoke- free policies. Still others are producing reports
 to businesses on the economics of going smoke-free.
     The high school campaign is just one part of the Blues' comprehensive
 tobacco prevention efforts. BCBSM has partnered with the American Lung
 Association of Michigan and Tobacco Free Michigan
 (tobaccofreemichigan.org), a grassroots organization dedicated to promoting
 tobacco-free environments and improving the health and quality of life for
 Michigan residents through education and advocacy.
     The Blues also are among a growing list of companies across Michigan
 and the nation that have broadened their policies from prohibiting smoking
 in their buildings to establishing smoke-free campuses. The Blues prohibit
 smoking and the use of tobacco products by employees and visitors on all
 company property, including its outdoor campuses, whether owned or leased.
 The aim is to improve the health and well-being of all individuals at Blues
 facilities. With such efforts, it joins with other companies in the
 Campaign for Smokefree Air (makemiairsmokefree.org), a Michigan coalition.
     BCBSM and its affiliated HMO, Blue Care Network, offer resources to
 help many of their health plan members quit smoking through "Quit the Nic,"
 an award-winning program available to many employer groups with Blues
 coverage. Participants receive telephone support, educational materials and
 opportunities to work with a health coach about how to kick the habit.
 Health coaches help develop a plan of action, establish a quit date and
 serve as a support system by offering encouragement, answering questions
 and evaluating progress. Blues members can enroll in "Quit the Nic" by
 calling BlueHealthConnection(R) at 800-775-BLUE (2583).
     Throughout the current school year, 12 grant recipients are managing
 the 27-school campaign with Blues grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000
 plus required matching funds. They are:
     East Michigan
       -- Flint: Genesee County Health Department
 
     Mid-Michigan
       -- Lansing: Ingham County Health Department
       -- Midland: Midland Community Cancer Services
 
     West Michigan
       -- Benton Harbor: Berrien County Health Department
       -- Charlevoix: Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency
       -- Grand Rapids: Tobacco Free Partners
 
     Upper Peninsula
       -- Escanaba: Menominee Health Department
       -- Kingsford: Dickinson-Iron District Health Department
       -- Newberry: Luce-Mackinaw Tobacco Reduction Coalition
       -- Negaunee: Marquette County Health Department
       -- Hancock: Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department
       -- Sault Ste. Marie: Chippewa County Health Department
     Grantees were selected based on their previous success in initiating
 smoke-free worksite policies in their respective communities. Along with
 policy and education-based activities with students, the grantees are
 coordinating a counter-marketing media campaign as part of the campaign.
     At each school, teens are involved in peer-to-peer education and
 leading youth advocacy efforts as part of the American Lung Association's
 Teens Against Tobacco Use program. As part of each grant, principals
 pledged that their schools will earn or maintain a "24/7 Tobacco Free"
 designation, survey students' behavior and attitudes toward tobacco use,
 and teach the tobacco module of the Michigan model curriculum developed by
 the State of Michigan that covers the health consequences of tobacco use
 and related issues. The campaign also directs individuals seeking
 information or help to the Michigan Tobacco Quitline at 800-QUIT-NOW
 (800-784-8669).
     The American Lung Association of Michigan has been dedicated to the
 prevention of lung disease and the promotion of lung health since its
 inception in 1907. Through education, advocacy and the support of research,
 ALAM (alam.org) is committed to keeping youth tobacco-free.
     Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides
 and administers health benefits to more than 4.6 million members residing
 in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who
 reside outside the state. The company offers a broad variety of plans
 including: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community
 Blue and Healthy Blue Incentives PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy
 Blue Living; Flexible Blue plans compatible with health savings accounts;
 Medicare Advantage; Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlue products in
 the under-age-65 individual market. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and
 Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of
 the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information,
 visit bcbsm.com.
 
 

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan