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R-2 students learn smoking dangers
The Index, Hermitage, MO
10/28/2009
Students from Wheatland High School recently went to Sacred Heart Church in Bolivar to participate in the Smokebusters Phase II training. This one-day media and advocacy leadership training is designated to teach Missouri youth how to move their schools and communities towards tobacco use prevention through policy change and media advocacy.
Every day, 3,000 youth begin smoking cigarettes, and 1,000 of them will become addicted and eventually suffer premature death according to officials with the Smokebusters program. Compared with the national average of 30%, more than 70% of boys in rural Missouri have tried chewing tobacco.
“When we see this staggering numbers, we know we must begin to teach our youth to speak against this deadly evil,” said Pam Jackson of the Hickory County Health Department. “When they have proper tools and training, students can have a strong voice in their community. At the end of the day, they leave the training confident, energized and ready to tackle important issues.”
At this event, students learned how to work with the media and elected officials, as well as how to become public advocates. In addition, several of the adult mentors also learned how to create a strong community networks, how to locate local funding sources, and how to deal with negative effect regarding tobacco-related issues. Additional information about the Smokebusters program is available by contacting Traci Foster at tfoster@wheatland.k12.mo.us
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