By Ann McGough

In 1997, several Dorchester-based youth programs came together to create the "Teens Against Tobacco." Their work here in Dorchester- from workshops about the ills of tobacco use to a campaign to stop sales outright in Codman Square- has made them a national model for other anti-tobacco organizations.

On Tuesday, August 13, the Teens Against Tobacco staged a press conference in front of the Codman Square Health Center to formally announce their latest initiative: "Tobacco-Free Sales Zone Campaign." The group is trying to convince all stores in central Dorchester to cease selling tobacco products.

Currently, the group has collected over 2,000 signatures from people living, working, or visiting Dorchester, along with 120 letters from local associations, employees, and residents that have been sent to Mayor Menino, Boston Public Health Commission Director John Auerbach, and the Boston City Council.

The ambitious effort has not yet signed up any stores, but it is getting the attention of political leaders. City Councillor Maureen Feeney attended Tuesday's press conference. "Years ago people said they couldn't make a difference when it comes to tobacco. By collecting 2,000 signatures in the hot summer, Teens Against Tobacco have proven that they can make a difference. I stand behind you one-hundred percent," Feeney said.

City Councillor Charles Yancey said to the group, "Second-hand smoke has killed more people than died in the Vietnam War. We should restrict it (smoking) the way we regulate the sale of alcohol. It is hypocritical that establishments like pharmacies which sell products to promote our health and well-being also sell tobacco products."

Yancey continued, "I would like to see not only Codman Square and Dorchester Four Corners become smoke-free, but all of Boston."

The Summer 2002 members of the Teens Against Tobacco are Stacy Botus, Brandon Burton, Lakiya Echols, Sabrina Farr, Caswell Francis, John Garris, Ashley Jackson, Rebekaah John, Isabelle Joseph, Jonathan Lewis, and Cynthia Loesch.

The teens previously received a small stipend for their outreach work through the Codman Square Health Center, but with recent budget cuts, there is no more funding for the program.

Still despite the fact that these young people need their own pocket money and are saving for college, most have committed to staying involved with Teens Against Tobacco, as volunteers.

John Garris, 17, will be a senior at East Boston High School in September.

"I am an ex-smoker," says Garris. "I quit on my own, but Teens Against Tobacco gave me the information that I need so I won't smoke again."

Garris believes that the tobacco companies target inner-city African American and Latino youth with their ad campaigns.

"When I was in Maine for a few weeks, do you know I did not see one cigarette ad?"

Brandon Burton, a student at New Mission High School, says his father inspired him to become involved with the program.

"My father smokes a lot in the house. When we go out, we all smell like smoke. I have learned a lot and have told my father what I have learned. He has cut back to one pack a week," says Burton.

Codman Square's Teens Against Tobacco is part of a larger smoke free movement that is gaining momentum locally. The Boston Area Youth Tobacco Action Group (BAYTAG) - an umbrella group of anti-tobacco organizations- has a campaign underway called "Street Scope" which targets the aggressive marketing of tobacco in local stores. The group determined that even some small convenience stores might have as many as 20 tobacco ads in their entranceways. Presently, Attorney General Thomas Reilly and Senator Edward Kennedy are working on legislation that would require all stores within 1,000 feet of a school to remove all tobacco ads.

In May 1999, the Teens Against Tobacco wrote letters to the editors of the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald asking that they not run ads for tobacco products in their newspapers. Partially in response to the 2,300 signatures that the teens collected and the press conference that they held, both the Globe and the Herald stopped printing advertisements for tobacco products.

Last year, Teens Against Tobacco assessed over three-hundred public places and businesses in Codman Square, Fields Corner, and Mattapan and found that between 95-97 percent of these places were smoke-free. The remaining three percent are being lobbied through a citywide campaign called Clean Air Works. The Codman Square Teens Against tobacco have collected signatures from over 500 supporters of this program and the latter were forwarded to Mayor Thomas Menino.

As they furthered their research regarding the smoking practices of people in the Dorchester/Mattapan area, the teens learned that about 25 percent of the young people who smoke obtained their cigarettes from large stores, often by asking asking adults to buy for them. The Teens Against Tobacco sent letters to the CEOs and Board of Directors of the eight major chain stores in Dorchester (CVS, Brooks, Walgreens, Kmart, Store 24, Tedeschi, Lil' Peach, Shaw's, and Stop and Shop) requesting meetings to discuss policy. Protests were held in front of local stores. Ed King, the head of corporate relations for Walgreens, flew in from Chicago to meet with the teens.

Until no more tobacco is sold, the teens say, they would like to see it become more difficult for establishments to become licensed to sell tobacco products. All merchants are required to do under the current guidelines is obtain a $5 retail license and then a $50 tobacco permit.

Cynthia Loesch comments, "What a low cost for all of the money they make selling cigarettes and all of the lives they take."

The Codman Square Teens Against Tobacco is truly ahead of the curve in its efforts. Because of their resourcefulness, they have been recognized nationally.

For the second year in a row, Cynthia Loesch has been named the East Coast Representative for the Tobacco Free Kids. She represents the twenty states along the East Coast in their anti-tobacco efforts.

Loesch recently traveled to Washington D.C. where she was recognized for her work. She also lobbied Congress to co-sponsor a bill that would require the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco.

"Tobacco is the only consumed product that is not regulated by the FDA," Loesch explains. While in Washington, Loesch met with Senators Kerry, Kennedy, and Congressman Stephen Lynch. All three agreed to co-sponsor the bill.

In addition to meeting with legislators, Cynthia attended training on how to relate to the media. Loesch says of her endeavors, "I do think I save lives. The best part of working with Teens Against Tobacco is when they say that they quit smoking or never started smoking because of me."