Bel Air, MD – March 12, 2013: Each year, National Kick Butts Day is recognized as a national day for involving and encouraging youth to seize control against tobacco.  The Harford County Health Department’s Cigarette Restitution Fund Tobacco Program School Health Specialist, Dottie Ruff, teaches students of all ages, throughout our County, about the dangers of tobacco, while empowering them to make healthy decisions to refrain from using tobacco in any form.

As a result of visiting schools in Harford County and educating students about the negative impact of using tobacco, thousands of 5th grade students across Harford County have pledged to never try tobacco by signing their names on banners that will be exhibited on National Kick Butts Day, Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at the Woodbridge Health Department location.

In a county with one of the highest rates of adult cigarette use in Maryland, the Harford County Health Department urges public awareness of the tobacco problem in Harford County and encourages youth to stay tobacco-free and avoid becoming a part of tobacco addiction, morbidity and mortality statistics.

For more information about Harford County Health Department’s Tobacco Program, please call (410) 612-1781 or visit www.harfordcountyhealth.com