PEORIA — Tamerra Henderson-Hightower is almost Richard Pryor-esque when she talks about the painful pockets of her life. She pulls laughter out of the darkest spaces. It’s not necessarily when she talks about the years of child abuse by her father, the years of drug addiction after an uncle introduced her to cocaine, even more years – nine times in and out of treatment – trying to kick the habit. “Don’t get me wro ... Jump to full article >>

DOVER — Drug and alcohol prevention advocates traveled to Boston last month to represent Dover Youth to Youth on their tobacco prevention tactics. Youth to Youth members Kaitlyn Hutchins and Nick Piscitello spoke at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products on how they are reaching out to their community on tobacco use prevention. The CTP is responsible for regulation of tobacco products and Youth to Youth Direc ... Jump to full article >>

Once Montana State University had smoking lounges, professors smoked in class and U.S. Tobacco not only sponsored the annual college rodeo, but handed out free chewing tobacco samples to spectators at the Fieldhouse. Over the last generation, tobacco has been increasingly restricted, and on Wednesday, campus leaders on MSU’s University Council took a historic vote, unanimously endorsing the idea of making the Bozeman campus tobacco-free. [ ... Jump to full article >>

The Rockwood School District has become the first school district in St. Louis County to reach the “gold standard” of tobacco-free policies that are part of the county health department’s federally-financed anti-smoking effort. To obtain that standard, the district has to abide by 40 policies and practices that generally prohibit smoking on school property, enforce the ban on students, staff and visitors, point out smoking cess ... Jump to full article >>

Dinosaurs covered in ashtrays and a website targeting teenage smokers are the key components of Year 1 of a five-year provincial tobacco strategy released Wednesday. The strategy calls for other types of action later on. They include immediate penalties for retailers who sell cigarettes to minors, persuading the federal government to change tobacco packaging, legislation to back no-smoking policies on hospital and school grounds, and looking a ... Jump to full article >>

PUBLIC health experts say a campaign that links plain cigarette packaging with children buying ”chop chop” – unbranded loose tobacco – from criminal gangs is grossly misleading and indicative of a desperate industry. The Association of Australian Retailers, which is bankrolled by big tobacco, has been running advertisements claiming children as young as 14 are smoking illegal tobacco smuggled by ”highly organised cr ... Jump to full article >>

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Since the start of 2011, Alcohol Law Enforcement agents have handed out more than 100 citations statewide to clerks selling tobacco products to underage kids. ALE agents say seven of the violations happened at Charlotte gas stations and convenience stores, many of them along Park Road in south Charlotte. The clerks who sold the tobacco products could face a $1,000 fine and possibly 30 days community service. In comp ... Jump to full article >>

High school students collected 1,087 cigarette butts in 45 minutes at Hunt Club Park Community Center, according to Vidal Anguiano, 18, a Zion-Benton High School student. Anguiano is one of 26 members of REALITY Illinois, a Lake County chapter of a statewide teen prevention program. Anguiano and his fellow club members met with Gurnee Park District commissioners Monday to try to persuade the board to institute a tobacco-free policy. “I’m ho ... Jump to full article >>

Commission limits ban to parks, playgrounds as resort city joins national and regional trend. Smoking will be banned in parks and playgrounds in Rehoboth Beach but city commissioners on Friday stopped short of a prohibition of smoking on the beach and boardwalk. The ban will take effect in 30 days to give municipal officials time to post signs and place cigarette-disposal caddies in the restricted areas. The commissioners’ 5-2 decision mir ... Jump to full article >>

St. Cloud State University students approved a plan that could make their campus tobacco free by August 2012. The issue passed with 63 percent approving and 37 percent voting against the plan. The students voted Monday through Wednesday, and the results were announced today at a Student Government meeting. The approval of the tobacco-free campus plan essentially is a recommendation to President Earl H. Potter III, who has final say over whether ... Jump to full article >>