Headshot Photo of Abe Baker-Butler

AbeBaker-Butler

Project Students Against Nicotine (SAN)

Location Rye Brook, NY

Issue Area Advocacy/Activism | Health

Deeply impacted by stories of family members who died from smoking-induced illnesses, Abe took comfort in his peers’ strong anti-cigarette stance, knowing they would never suffer from the same addiction. However, once in high school, the prevalence of e-cigarettes took hold of his friends despite their previous anti-nicotine sentiments. Abe took matters into his own hands and co-founded Students Against Nicotine (SAN), which works to reduce and eradicate teen vaping through legislative advocacy and education in New York State.

SAN has connected with thousands of New York teens through peer-to-peer education, webinars, rallies, and conferences. In 2019, Abe helped pass Tobacco 21 legislation, raising the age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old. Most recently, SAN helped ban the use of flavors in e-cigarettes across New York State.

As I saw my friends and classmates becoming addicted to e-cigarettes, I realized that my voice, as a young person, mattered. By advocating and educating based on my experiences, I was able to bring about meaningful policy change to protect my generation’s public health and stem the tide of the e-cig epidemic.

Abe Baker-Butler
Abe and other teens with Governor Cuomo.

Students Against Nicotine (SAN)

studentsagainstnicotine.org

Students Against Nicotine (SAN) works to reduce and eradicate teen vaping through legislative advocacy and education in New York State. By educating and empowering youth, banning flavors, restricting marketing, and shifting public perception of nicotine, SAN is realizing its vision of a nicotine-free youth population.