Breathe the Music: A Novel Approach to Health Advocacy

Audience:

Individuals of all experience levels interested in public health and tobacco control advocacy, especially those aimed at influencing policy at the individual, state, and local levels.

Key Points:

“Breathe the Music” is a novel Oklahoma based tobacco control advocacy concept rooted in the belief that all Oklahomans have the right to breathe smoke free air. Currently, not every entertainment venue (e.g. clubs, bars, casinos, parks) in Oklahoma is smoke free, and this creates an environment in which there are a limited number of locations that musicians or music lovers can attend without being exposed to secondhand smoke. Individuals involved in the “Breathe the Music” movement have utilized entertainment and entertainment venues as a vehicle to provide tobacco control education and influence tobacco control policy at the individual, state, and local levels.

Educational Experience:

This poster will present a case study that highlights five different “Breathe the Music” events that took place in Oklahoma, including the outcomes and lessons learned from each event. These events have made great strides in promoting tobacco control in the following ways: spreading the tobacco control message to large audiences, giving advocates the opportunity to work with local and state legislators, reaching specific populations, gathering support and evidence to pass local ordinances, and event participation and sponsorship by community leaders.

Benefits:

The events that are highlighted have demonstrated success and can provide individuals involved in public health advocacy, especially those aimed at influencing policy at any level with ideas and strategies that can be applied to a variety of public issues.