STTAC Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition

06/24/2026

🤔Where are you seeing ni****ne and to***co use in pop culture?🤔

👉“Ni****ne is showing up across pop culture moments—on TV and film, magazine covers, and in social media—in ways that can make it look casual, glamorous, or harmless,” says Megan Jacobs, senior vice president of product at Truth Initiative, “The good news is that many of the young people who use ni****ne want to quit and are looking for help..."

🚭Drop the V**e is a free, confidential text-based program from the New York State Quitline designed to help youth and young adults quit va**ng and other ni****ne products - https://www.nysmokefree.com/drop-the-v**e/ 🚭

06/23/2026

Did you know⁉
There are high rates of to***co use among the LGBTQ+ community, due in part to the aggressive marketing by to***co companies including event sponsorship, bar promotions, giveaways, and advertisements. 👎

06/18/2026

➡The to***co industry will go to great lengths to block progress.⬅️

This document is intended as a quick reference guide with ready-to-go evidence-based counter-arguments when faced with these common myths.

🚭 Misinformation remains one of the to***co industry's most powerful tools to delay and weaken public health policies.

📖 This recently released publication, Debunking To***co Industry Misinformation, by the WHO FCTC Secretariat and , provides evidence-based responses to common industry myths—from claims that to***co control harms economies 📉 to arguments that to***co taxation fuels illicit trade 📦.

💡 A valuable resource for policymakers, advocates, researchers, and anyone committed to protecting public health from commercial interference.

🔗 Find the publication here:

https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/i/item/debunking-to***co-industry-misinformation

06/12/2026

Ni****ne addiction takes hold faster than most people realize. Most people develop ni****ne dependence in as little as a few days, and for some, addiction can begin after just one or two ci******es or v**e sessions.

That’s not by accident. Big To***co has spent decades perfecting products that hijack the brain, ensuring users come back again and again. (https://stopswithme.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-addicted-to-ni****ne/)

06/12/2026

... Way back to local Reality Check youth at Mobilize Against To***co LIES in 2019!

👍Effective 1 year later, on May 18, 2020, the sale of flavored v***r products containing ni****ne in NYS became prohibited. 👍

-Unfortunately- a 2026 Truth Initiative report shows that the ni****ne industry has dramatically expanded its reach through high-tech “smart” v**es, disposable e-ci******es, and flavored ni****ne pouches. These products are aggressively marketed to youth by using digital features, bright packaging, and fruity flavors. About 32% of youth who use e-ci******es reported using “smart” v**es in the past month, highlighting a growing trend that blends ni****ne with interactive technology.

This reinforces the importance of our mission to create environments where youth feel protected from targeted ni****ne marketing and empowered to make to***co- and ni****ne-free choices.

06/11/2026

🏳️‍🌈TODAY from 4-6pm we will be at the First Annual Schuyler Pride Celebration at the Montour Falls Farmers Market!🏳️‍🌈

⁉ Did you know ⁉
In 1995, the to***co company R.J. Reynolds created a marketing strategy called “Project SCUM” (Sub-Culture Urban Marketing) to boost cigarette sales by targeting gay men and homeless individuals with advertisements and displays placed in communities and stores. 👎😠

Learn more here: https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/targeted-communities/to***co-use-lgbtq-community

Southern Finger Lakes Pride

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

06/05/2026

For ***coDay, we must “unmask the appeal” of to***co & ni****ne products. Behind the flavors, sleek packaging, and influencer marketing is the same business model: addiction for profit.

To***co endgame is within reach. Read our blog: https://ow.ly/SNIB50Z5hY5

06/04/2026

🌎Tomorrow is World Environment Day! 🌎

Even small actions can make a difference. Conduct your own mini litter clean up in your community. Cigarette butts are the single most littered item on the planet, releasing toxic chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals into our waterways and soil.

By keeping our outdoor spaces clean and to***co-free, we can help protect the environment and create healthier communities for everyone.

🌎 World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 to encourage people around the world to protect our environment and take action for a healthier future.

This year, we’re reminded that even small actions can make a big difference. Cigarette butts are the single most littered item on the planet, releasing toxic chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals into our waterways and soil.

By keeping our outdoor spaces clean and to***co-free, we can help protect the environment and create healthier communities for everyone. 🌿