As a Community Development Agency charged with helping to educate the community on health and wellness concerns affecting minority communities. The Way Resource Center supports the efforts of various agencies involved with trying to reduce youth retail access to tobacco in their cities.

Every city has different statistic nationwide on the overall sale and use of tobacco products by youth, and the easy accessibility of these products. Because of this we have develop a deeper concern for this issue because tobacco use is responsible for 480,000 deaths annually in the United States. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 1.5 million more youth e-cigarette users in 2018 than 2017.

Our Don’t smoke, Don’t vape, Don’t die campaign is targeted not only at youth but at parents, guardians and retailers to bring about a greater awareness of the negative effects that these high end nicotine products can do to our youth of today.

To reduce illegal sales of tobacco products to minors, more than 140 communities in California have adopted a strong local Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance. In all communities with a strong Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance where there is before and after youth sales data available, the rate of illegal tobacco sales to minors has significantly decreased.

It is the responsibility of each of us to do whatever we can to protect our loves ones and give them the best chance possible at a healthy rewarding life.