Through funding support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the George Washing University (GW) Cancer Center is pleased to announce the release of a brand new social media toolkit for Emerging Issues in Commercial Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation.  This toolkit was developed through a collaboration between GW and a consortium of 8 national organizations funded by the CDC to advance the prevention of commercial tobacco use and cancer in populations experiencing tobacco- and cancer-related health disparities.

The toolkit contains information on planning, implementing and evaluating social media activities around various tobacco-related health observances beginning with No Menthol Sunday and World No Tobacco Day in May.  Messages from this toolkit could be used or adapted for national observances and commemorative months acknowledging priority populations.

In an effort to advance health equity, this toolkit includes background evidence and targeted sample social media messages for special populations including: 1) African Americans; 2) American Indians and Alaska Natives; 3) Armed services members and military veterans; 4) Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Pacific Islanders; 5) Hispanics/Latinx; 6) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, (LGBTQ+) individuals; 7) People of lower socioeconomic status (SES); 8) People who live in rural communities; 9) People with mental health and/or substance use disorders (MH/SUD).

GW Cancer Center also offers tips for getting started on social media, sample messaging for Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, an expanded list of commercial tobacco-related resources, and creative ideas for engaging with your audience on a variety of social media platforms like Reddit, Instagram, Snapchat and more.  For the first time, the toolkit authors have also contributed social media graphics for you to use on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (bit.ly/tobaccographics2020).

Download the toolkit today by clicking the link HERE.