Leading Kids in the Right Direction
It’s a fact: Kids who use tobacco are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs such as cocaine and marijuana. Whether you’re a counselor, a coach, a teacher or a medical professional, you’re often in a position to exert more influence over a kid’s habits than you’d expect. And that goes for smoking, as well.
Here are several ways to put that influence to work for a smoke-free future…
- Smoking slows lung growth, decreases lung function, and reduces the oxygen available for muscles used in sports. Players relate more to messages about the immediate effects of tobacco use (such as poorer athletic performance) than to its long-term health threats.
- Smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost 3 times more often than nonsmokers. Whether your students are involved in sports, theater, debating, glee—or even study hall—find a way to make that knowledge relevant.
- Nicotine is addictive in many of the ways heroin and cocaine are. Young people who do not start using tobacco by age 18 will most likely never start.
- Spit tobacco and cigars are NOT safe alternatives to cigarettes; low-tar and additive-free tobacco products are not safe, either.
- Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States, causing heart and lung diseases, cancers, and strokes.
- If you use tobacco, practice what you preach. Never use tobacco around the kids. Better yet, quit. Quitting sets the best example of all. Need help doing that? Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
- Adopt and enforce a tobacco-free policy for all participants in programs and sports on every level, even in the concessions. Make all environments tobacco-free—on the field and sidelines, backstage, on the practice podium, and in the stands. Send a copy of the tobacco-free policy home for parents to review.
- Organize a no-smoking pledge. Have every member of the group sign it.
- Announce and display tobacco-free messages at events.
- Consider partnering with your local tobacco prevention programs. Voice your support for tobacco-free schools, sports, and other community events.
- Announce and display tobacco-free messages at events.
- Consider partnering with your local tobacco prevention programs. Voice your support for tobacco-free schools, sports, and other community events.
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