April 24 - Young Adult Tobacco Reduction Strategy: Unfiltered - The Truth About Tobacco on Campus Student Conference

On March 24, 2004 AADAC hosted Unfiltered - The Truth About Tobacco on Campus, a free conference for Alberta post-secondary students with an interest in tobacco control. The conference - held at the Edmonton Coast Plaza Hotel - was a resounding success, drawing over 60 students from as far away as Ottawa and Winnipeg.

Thanks to a well-informed and enthusiastic series of presenters, delegates learned about tobacco industry marketing activities, smoking policy change, tobacco marketing strategies in the third world, how to work with university and college administration, and the importance of grassroots student action in tobacco reduction. In addition, student presenters Philip Ney, Jamie Huckabay, and Chris Broughton shared their experience starting up the U of L's Students for Tobcco Reduction group. They provided insight into what has proven to be a very successful campus tobacco reduction campaign to date, having run a tobacco awareness week, hosted a forum on second hand smoke in the workplace, promoted a non-smoking concert, and even helped remove a tobacco friendly students union from office.

Chris Broughton, Philip Ney, and Jamie Huckabay speak at UNFILTERED conference about tobacco reduction on campus

For many however, the most valuable and memorable aspect of the conference was the open and friendly atmosphere which made it easy for all participants regardless of their age, occupation or background to form far-reaching communication and support networks, create original, innovative and more effective plans-of-action, and, above all, form new friendships.

This conference came as a follow up to AADACs awarding $538,000 to registered non-profit groups, student organizations, colleges, universities, regional health authorities, advocacy groups and other stakeholders with one-time grants of up to $50,000 each as a part of the Young Adult Tobacco Reduction Strategy. The grants will allow young adults to develop innovative tobacco-reduction related programs, policies, and projects.

For more information please visit the official AADAC site for tobacco control: tobacco.aadac.com

Philip Ney and Jamie Huckabay being interview by The Edmonton Journal and CBC Radio