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The 84 is the huge number of young people in Massachusetts who choose not to use tobacco. (It’s the 83.6% of 7th to 12th graders who aren’t current smokers, to be exact!) Some of The 84 Crew is outraged and outspoken about Big Tobacco’s deadly products. Some want their parents and friends to quit. Some make a statement by not smoking and are busy doing other things that make them part of The 84.

Statistics show that the younger people are when they start smoking, the more likely it is that they will grow up to be regular smokers – tobacco addicts. Many young tobacco users think they can quit whenever they want, but continue to smoke years later. Cigarette makers claim they do not target teens, that nicotine is not addictive, and that tobacco use does not cause cancer. But, young people are huge consumers of popular media like magazines and movies and therefore a major target market for Big Tobacco.

Recently, the Board of Health was awarded a five hundred dollar Mini-Grant to support Burlington High School youth who organized three events for promoting a smoke free lifestyle. The Board of Health partnered with the Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force headed by Charlie Franich of the Burlington Community Life Center. The purpose of the grant was to provide funding to support and celebrate a youth led movement, called the84.org, in order to “make smoking history” by promoting the smoke free habits of today’s Massachusetts youth. The Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force hosted three visibility events with the84.org. The events occurred at Burlington High School, under the supervision of Andria Nemoda, RN, Supervising Public Health Nurse, on April 2nd, May 29th and 30th 2008. Burlington is the 29th Massachusetts community to participate in the movement. More information can be found at www. the84.org as well as these other websites: