While use of traditional tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars) among youth has steadily declined, there has been a significant increase recently in the use of electronic tobacco products (vapes, e-cigs, etc.). In addition, flavored tobacco products such as cigarillos continue to be popular among youth of color and also serve as gateway products to traditional cigarettes. The Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN) and Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network (WTPPN) are working to help reverse that trend, by supporting youth programming and engagement, youth leadership training, and strategic collaborations to address issues related to tobacco use. The primary avenue for this work has been WAATPN and WTPPN’s facilitation and support of members of FACT, Wisconsins’s youth-driven tobacco prevention movement. FACT, a Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program supported by the American Lung Association is a youth- driven movement consisting of more than 2,500 members across the state. Through youth engagement, FACT works to reduce tobacco use among
Wisconsin’s youth.​

Our Work

FACT
The WAATPN and WTPPN are responsible for providing guidance and other support for members of FACT, a youth group that specializes in activism, peer-to-peer advocacy, media outreach and outreach to local and state leaders to provide information on how tobacco is impacting local youth. FACT youth have provided testimony during public hearings related to tobacco, presented at local, state, and national conferences, provided peer-to-peer advocacy at countless community and school-sponsored events, met with elected officials, and have been featured in numerous media stories, among many other activities. 

WI Wins
The WAATPN has provided technical support and training for teens and adults responsible for conducting tobacco retailer compliance checks as participants in the Wisconsin Wins Program, a science-based, state-level initiative designed to decrease youth access to tobacco products. The data they have collected and stories they have shared about their experiences have helped to create changes to municipal laws aimed at reducing youth exposure to tobacco including tripling the fine for selling tobacco and single cigarettes to minors. 

Leadership Development
​FACT members are widely recognized as leaders in the tobacco prevention movement and serve an important role through their advocacy efforts in helping to reduce tobacco use among youth and adults. It’s  members have won several local, state, and national awards for their advocacy efforts.

Media Coverage

Shorewood teens win state and regional advocacy awards - Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Shorewood High School Student Teams Up With FACT To Help Reduce Vaping - WUWM Radio 
Shorewood Students meet with Legislators - Shorewood District News
Local teen selected as national youth ambassador for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, receives statewide award for advocacy - Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Shorewood Senior Recognized for Tobacco Prevention and Control Advocacy Shorewood District News
“Don’t Let Candy-flavored Tobacco Products Fool You” - Milwaukee Courier 
Group aims to stop single cigarette sales in Milwaukee - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
City Increases Fine For Retailers Who Sell Tobacco to Minors - Milwaukee Independent
Work of FACT, Wisconsin’s youth-led tobacco prevention movement - Milwaukeenns.org 
Group aims to stop single cigarette sales to Milwaukee teens - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 
Campaign draws attention to impact of menthol on vaping, African American community - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 
Teens say they are vaping more than nicotine - Today’s TMJ 4 
Program educates teens about dangers of smoking - Spectrum News 1 ​

Video Gallery

Taking Down Tobacco Highlights March 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PGGTQec-Vc&feature=youtu.be

E-cigarette/Vaping Interview August 2019
https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/madison/health/2019/08/07/program-educates-teens-about-dangers-of-vaping

Rufus King Versus Riverside Homecoming Halftime Oct. 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0AbSALyQJ4

 Resources

• Factmovement.org: Spreading the Truth about Tobacco
• wiwins.org: A statewide campaign uses a science-based strategy to decrease youth access to tobacco products and help retailers avoid fines. 
• Tobwis.org: Youth Engagement Toolkit
• Tobaccofreekids.org: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 
• Truthinitiative.org: America’s largest nonprofit public health organization 
• Cdc.gov: Youth and Tobacco Use 
• Tobacco 21: FDA Legislation that raised the federal minimum age for sale of tobacco from 18 to 21. 
• Wisconsin High School Snapshot: Youth Tobacco Survey 2018
• Wisconsin Middle School Snapshot: Youth Tobacco Survey 2018 
• Tobacco is Changing: Statewide Campaign to increase awareness on new and flavored tobacco products. 

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