Contact: Will Sansom, (210) 567-2579, sansom@uthscsa.edu
Cliff Despres, (210) 562-6517, despres@uthscsa.edu
WHAT: Announcement and demonstration of Quitxt, a free, culturally relevant text-message and online- support service to help Latino young adults in San Antonio and across South Texas quit smoking
WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13
WHERE: Academic & Administration Building on the Long Campus of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229, in the South Texas Medical Center
WHO: Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., study leader and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research in the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center, will describe the program and welcome San Antonio Scorpions defender Julius James. The Scorpions soccer team, SA2020, and other businesses and health groups have endorsed the Quitxt program, which is funded by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas.
WHY: Tobacco kills about 3,000 people in South Texas annually. Smoking rates are high among Mexican Americans along the border and across South Texas, and few culturally relevant, accessible regional programs target the issue.
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The Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio investigates the causes and solutions to the unequal impact of cancer and chronic disease among certain populations, including Latinos, in San Antonio, South Texas and the nation. The IHPR, founded in 2006, uses evidence-guided research, training and community outreach to improve the health of those at a disadvantage due to race/ethnicity or social determinants, such as education or income. Visit the IHPR online at http://ihpr.uthscsa.edu or follow its blog at http://www.saludtoday.com/blog.