Anti-tobacco message a winner in both communities

Anti-tobacco advocates thought a little friendly competition between Wrangell and Petersburg might draw attention to their message.

"It's been a challenge to reach people because we're not having face-to-face meetings," said Tammi Meissner, Wrangell SEARHC health educator.

Organizers put up posters in each town, showing the connection between tobacco use, e-cigarettes and health, and asked people to find and take pictures of the hidden posters, and then put them on the event's Facebook page.

The posters targeted "vaping and the tobacco industry's marketing of flavors to kids," Meissner said. The messages are particularly relevant during the pandemic of a respiratory virus, she said, with COVID-19 also featured in the messages.

The Petersburg-versus-Wrangell Tobacco Prevention and Control Facebook Event closed Jan. 22, with the trophy going to Petersburg, where 81 people posted photos, to 75 in Wrangell who spotted and added the posters to the Facebook page.

Meissner and co-organizer Tori Shay, of the Petersburg Indian Association, said they are happy with the participation. Without fans in the stands at high school basketball games and other limitations during the pandemic, "we wanted something that was friendly and competitive," Meissner said.

In addition to the trophy going to the winning community, several names were drawn from the entrants in each town for a hydro flask, she said.

The event organizers are hoping for a similar competition again later this year or next year.

Anyone looking for information on quitting smoking or e-cigarettes can call Alaska's Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669).