Oha announces winner of annual anti-spit tobacco slogan contest

Oha announces winner of annual anti-spit tobacco slogan contest

Contest Educates Kids About Dangers of Spit Tobacco

CHICAGO, July 25, 2014 — Oral Health America (OHA) is proud to announce the winner of the 13th Annual NSTEP^®

(National Spit Tobacco Education Program) Slogan Contest. Twelve-year-old, Falls Church, Va.-native Alex Smith’s

slogan, “Play with grit. Strive to hit. But never spit!” will be featured throughout the upcoming Little League

Baseball^® World Series, reaching tens of thousands of young baseball and softball players and their families and

bringing more attention to the dangerous habit of chewing tobacco.

Teaming up with Little League^® Baseball and Softball, the annual contest calls on players ages 8-14 to create a

compelling ten-word phrase describing the dangers of spit tobacco for a chance to win a trip to the Little League

Baseball World Series and cash prize.

“It’s an awesome program, and I told him that the most important thing is that maybe you’ll convince someone not

to start,” said Alex’s mother, Beth Smith. “That’s the whole key—if you don’t start, then you don’t have to quit.”

The recent tragic loss of Tony Gwynn to oral cancer highlights the fact that educating Americans about the dangers

of spit tobacco is more important than ever. The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention show that while cigarette use continues to decline, use among adults remains the same. In addition,

almost half of all new users start before the age 18, with 8.8% of all high school students using smokeless tobacco

as of 2013. Through the slogan contest and other advocacy and education efforts throughout the year, NSTEP

works to educate people, especially young people, about spit tobacco and helps all users quit.

“NSTEP provides Little League athletes with an opportunity to start a dialogue about an alarming trend in tobacco

use on and off the field,” said Beth Truett, President and CEO of Oral Health America. “We are thrilled about the

enthusiasm of youth engaging their peers with an important message about the dangers of smokeless tobacco.”

As the winner of the slogan contest, Alex will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Little League Baseball World

Series^® in South Williamsport, Pa., and a cash prize. In addition, OHA will donate $500 to Alex’s local Little League

program, the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League.

“Little League is pleased to be a part of helping educate Little League players about the risks associated with the

use of spit tobacco,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “We hope that by participating in

the slogan contest we help increase awareness for Little League players, coaches, and their parents. We thank Oral

Health America and commend them on NSTEP’s efforts.”

The winning slogan was chosen out of nearly 1,500 submissions from Little Leaguers^® from across the country, a

contest record.

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