KANAB, UT - Representatives of the Kane Community Youth Coalition (KCYC) headed to the Utah State Capitol last week to educate policymakers on the effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes on local young people. More than 400 teens made the trip from all across the state. KCYC member Emilee Soderquist spoke alongside Representative Brad Daw and many others. Joining Emilee was Abby Brooks and McKenna Clarkson along with Adult Coordinators Lexie Little and Ashley Heaton.
Youth were paired with their elected representatives and senators to discuss the issues faced in their local areas. “This was a great opportunity for us to share with our state leaders the issues we are seeing in our schools and community,” says McKenna Clarkson, KCYC member. “We are the ones who are seeing our peers using these harmful products and we can be a voice for the future of our generation.”
KCYC members were happy to educate Representative Mike Noel, Senator Ralph Okerlund, and Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox about the alarming increase in youth drug use in our area. In southwest Utah, the youth rate of e-cigarette use has skyrocketed over 300% in just a two-year time span. Policymakers can use this information to adjust priorities relating to preventive legislation at the state level.
You can follow KCYC on Facebook (kanecoyouth).
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