The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club plans to host representatives from Tobacco-Free Maine Works via Zoom at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, March 23.

Tobacco-Free Maine Works is a coalition of Maine business leaders dedicated to reducing youth tobacco use, the cycle of addiction and disease, in order to promote a healthy workforce for the future, according to a news release from Carol Madsen with the rotary club.

More than 40 Maine-based businesses have signed on as partners of Tobacco-Free Maine Works. That covers companies from Portland to Bar Harbor and Caribou and includes retail stores, food service, child care centers, professional services and insurance companies.

The coalition is acting to reduce youth tobacco use to help prevent additional health care costs down the line once young people enter the workforce. That’s why Tobacco-Free Maine Works supports solutions such as ending the sale of flavored tobacco products that lure kids into becoming lifelong tobacco users.

Speakers Matt Wellington and Anne Donnelly will discuss the issue facing Maine employers who, already faced with a challenging labor market, are being pushed to the breaking point due to employee illness, leading to more days out and higher health care costs. Tobacco use makes employees sicker.

Wellington is director of public health campaigns with the Public Interest Research Group. Donnelly is an associate in the same organization.

For the access link, email gszoksbox@gmail.com.

For questions about the club or meeting, email Club President Aaron Hagan at lakeregionrotary@gmail.com.

 

 

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