Oakland

Opinion: Youth Voices on Oakland’s Flavored Tobacco Ban

Published

7 years ago

September 18, 2017

Oakland Post

By La Clinica de La Raza

The Sweet Influence of a Harmful Product and Addictive Habit.

Research proves many smokers today get hooked at a young age. Many of the youth from the Peer Health Education Program at La Clinica de La Raza have family members that smoke and have seen first-hand the unfortunate health risks they encounter and the financial disadvantages they struggle with. Therefore, many of the teenagers in the program choose to become involved in tobacco-prevention to help close family members become aware of the harms of tobacco use in hope that they quit.

The sweet influence of a harmful product is commonly used among teens, as Lizbeth Bautista, 16-year-old Life Academy student shares, “flavored-tobacco is incredibly popular among teens and the research shows the younger someone smokes the harder it is for them to quit. The tobacco industry purposely targets teenagers with flavored-tobacco because as they grow older the more tobacco they will buy, as addiction is a real thing.”

The tobacco industry uses packaging, pricing, and most importantly flavors to lure new young customers to picking up the addictive habit.

Lupe Hernandez, 15-year-old Life Academy student, has observed just like many of her peers the concern regarding flavored-tobacco products that are generally used by her peers.

She says, “Near my school there is a liquor store where I see classmates and other teenagers purchase flavored-tobacco products and use them at the park next to my school. It is a problem because these teenagers are exposing themselves to the addictive product that they are able to purchase for under a dollar without being carded. This issue affects my community in that young people are being targeted by the luring candy-flavored tobacco products.”

Many of the high school youth participants in the Peer Health Education Program at La Clinica de La Raza have been impacted in some shape or form by the tobacco products that seem to penetrate our most vulnerable community members, our young people! Many of the students have seen first-hand the struggles with addiction of tobacco products from the common use of seeing classmates and family members using tobacco products. It is these first-hand experiences in which have driven the youth to do something on this issue by speaking up about the importance of city-wide sales restrictions on flavored tobacco product, as they hope to prevent young people from becoming future smokers from the luring candy-flavors to the inexpensive access of purchasing these products. Addiction of tobacco is real, and preventing another generation of smokers is what the peer health educators aim to do.

The inexpensive, sweet candy tobacco-flavored products purposely targets youth to get them hooked at a young age at a high cost of long-term health problems. Two Peer Health Educators from Life Academy have shared their experiences of how tobacco affects their family, friends, and community and will continue to advocate for preventive solutions.

The Peer Health Educators from La Clinica de La Raza understand the importance of a city-wide ban on the sale of flavored-tobacco products and know this solution resides with moving into the right direction in protecting their peers to help prevent another generation of smokers.

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Related Topics:flavored tobacco La Clinica de la Raza Oakland Opinion Tobacco Ban

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Bay Area

Faces Around the Bay: Sidney Carey

Sidney Carey was born in Dallas, Texas. He moved with his family to West Oakland as a baby. His sister is deceased; one brother lives in Oakland. Carey was the Choir Director at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for 18 years.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of Sidney Lane.

By Barbara Fluhrer

Sidney Carey was born in Dallas, Texas. He moved with his family to West Oakland as a baby. His sister is deceased; one brother lives in Oakland.

Carey was the Choir Director at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for 18 years.

He graduated from McClymonds High with a scholarship in cosmetology and was the first African American to complete a nine-month course at the first Black Beauty School in Oakland: Charm Beauty College.

He earned his License, and then attended U.C., earning a secondary teaching credential. With his Instructors License, he went on to teach at Laney College, San Mateo College, Skyline and Universal Beauty College in Pinole, among others.

Carey was the first African American hair stylist at Joseph and I. Magnin department store in Oakland and in San Francisco, where he managed the hair stylist department, Shear Heaven.

In 2009, he quit teaching and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. He was 60 and “too old for a heart transplant”. His doctors at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) went to court and fought successfully for his right to receive a transplant. One day, he received a call from CPMC, “Be here in one hour.” He underwent a transplant with a heart from a 25-year- old man in Vienna, Austria

Two years later, Carey resumed teaching at Laney College, finally retiring in 2012.

Now, he’s slowed down and comfortable in a Senior Residence in Berkeley, but still manages to fit his 6/4” frame in his 2002 Toyota and drive to family gatherings in Oakland and San Leandro and an occasional Four Seasons Arts concert.

He does his own shopping and cooking and uses Para Transit to keep constant doctor appointments while keeping up with anti-rejection meds. He often travels with doctors as a model of a successful heart-transplant plant recipient: 14 years.

Carey says, “I’m blessed” and, to the youth, “Don’t give up on your dreams!”

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Bay Area

Emiliano Zapata Street Academy Celebrates 40 Years Serving Oakland Families

The Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy, a public alternative high school, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year with a community party and festival last Saturday with live music, good food, vendors’ booths, and activities for adults and children.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Live music was part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Emiliano Zapata Street Academy, a public alternative high school, on April 27, at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church on Telegraph Avenue and 29th Street. Photo by Ken Epstein.

By Ken Epstein

The Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy, a public alternative high school, celebrated its 50^th anniversary this year with a community party and festival last Saturday with live music, good food, vendors’ booths, and activities for adults and children.

Attending the Saturday, April 27 celebration were current and past students, families, faculty, and supporters of the school. The school is located at 417 29^th St., and the celebration was held nearby at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland.

For more information, go to www.streetacademy.online or call 510) 874-3630 or (510) 879-2313.

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Activism

Oakland Ambassadors Strengthen Ties and Aid Efforts in Ghana

Oakland natives and esteemed members of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), Jonathan P. Jones and Dr. Maritony Efua Jones, recently embarked on a significant journey to Ghana as guests of the World Martial Authority Ghana. This trip signifies a crucial opportunity to bolster partnerships, explore new avenues of collaboration, and contribute to impactful initiatives in Ghana.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Elder Jorg Klebingat, Flint Mensah, Richard Burton, H.E. Dr. Maritony Jones, Amb. Jonathan Jones, Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, Elder Alfred Kyungu. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

This trip signifies a crucial opportunity to bolster partnerships, explore new avenues of collaboration, and contribute to impactful initiatives in Ghana.

Upon their arrival at Katota Airport in Accra, Ghana, the Joneses were warmly received by His Royal Majesty Okatakyie Asafo Boakye III, the distinguished king of Sanzule Kingdom in the Eastern Nzema, and Etse Nyamedi of World Martial Authority, Ghana.

Nyamedi accompanied the Joneses to the city of Mepe, which had recently experienced flooding, to assess damages and engage with local leaders, elders, and youth regarding the city’s urgent needs after major floods last fall.

Key concerns and priorities identified by the community include comprehensive flood mitigation measures, agricultural support, housing initiatives, educational enhancements, improved healthcare access, and the development of communal recreational spaces.

The Joneses were also graciously invited to meet with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at their headquarters in Accra. This meeting provided insights into ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ghana and explored avenues for collaboration to further assist Ghanaian communities.

The LDS leaders shared their prompt response to the recent flood, demonstrating their commitment to humanitarian aid by dispatching substantial supplies including medical provisions, sanitation items, blankets, and food to assist flood victims just four days after the disaster.

Additionally, Boakye extended a special invitation to the Joneses to his palace, where they were pleasantly surprised with a heartfelt recognition ceremony. Maritony Jones was honored as the Queen Mother of the Sanzule Kingdom in acknowledgment of her dedicated work, while Jonathan Jones was lauded and welcomed as the ambassador of the Sanzule Kingdom, symbolizing a meaningful homecoming to their ancestral land.

The visit not only strengthens ties between Oakland and Ghana but also underscores the collaborative spirit and commitment to meaningful progress and humanitarian endeavors shared by all involved parties.