Our mission is to promote prevention of the harmful effects of tobacco to individuals and to society at-large. Nicotine addiction is a pediatric disease. The average age to become a daily smoker is 14.5 years. Tobacco kills more than 420,000 smokers in America each year. One of every three smokers dies from tobacco-related disease.
Secondhand smoke is deadly.
It kills about 53,000 nonsmokers and triggers roughly 1,000,000 episodes of childhood illness every year. They target market to teens, minorities and women. The Tobacco Industry has tremendous political power in Illinois and the federal level. It is one of the most powerful special interest groups, contributing massive amounts of money to politicians and political parties. Culturally sensitive activities are taking place in schools, YMCAs, community centers and after school programs throughout Illinois.