Countywide : Surgeon General to Hold Teleconference

Orange County residents will be able to speak with U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders next week about tobacco use in a free video teleconference.

The conference is planned at five locations, said Billie Ratoike of the county Department of Education’s Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Education project, also known as DATE.

The surgeon general will discuss the prevalence of smoking and tobacco chewing among adolescents, as well as problems that result when youths use tobacco products.

Participants may submit questions for Elders, and a facilitator will read the queries to Elders by telephone; she will answer the questions live on video screens set up at the five locations.

Elders will talk with conference participants about what can be done to discourage youths from using tobacco, and people are encouraged to ask questions relating to smoking and health in general.

She will also release the 23rd surgeon general report on smoking and health during the conference.

Organizers will hold the conference Thursday. Attendees may ask questions and listen in from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; items that arise during the conference will be discussed from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

Participants may tune in to the conference at the following sites:

* Anaheim Union High School District boardroom, 501 Crescent Way, Anaheim.

* Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Center, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton.

* Guin Foss/Adult Education Center’s multipurpose room, 18492 Vanderlip Ave., Santa Ana.

* KOCE-TV at Golden West College, 15751 Gothard St., Huntington Beach.

* Century High School’s Small Theater, 1401 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana.

For information, call DATE at (714) 966-4467. The fax number is (714) 662-7564.