Students in Tyrone will take center stage in the fight against tobacco on April 2 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the eighth annual Kick Butts Day.
More than 1,500 events are planned in all 50 states. This year’s Kick Butts Day comes as states faced with large budget deficits are making critical decisions on tobacco prevention initiatives. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are debating funding for the state’s tobacco prevention program and are considering a cigarette tax increase.
“We’re doing an assembly in the elementary schools for third, fourth and fifth grades, and we’re going to read an announcement at the high school,” said TAHS Officer Mark Frailey of plans for Kick Butts Day. “Then we’re going to do a chalk outline, but with tape for when somebody gets killed all over the high school.”
The two powerful messages kids focus on during Kick Butts Day are finding ways for the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with advertising and asking elected leaders to do more to protect them from tobacco. From mock-funerals for the Marlboro Man to rallies at state capitols to surveys of tobacco advertising, students are asking elected officials that now is the time to enact policies that reduce tobacco use and the toll it takes in health, lives and money.
“We got the tobacco grant, and tomorrow at the school board meeting we’re going to be giving them our ATOD sign that came in and a banner and a small sign too,” said Officer Frailey.
Tyrone was one of many schools that was able to receive money from a tobacco settlement, and it uses the money for things like signs and banners to promote “no tobacco” use. Other things the school has done with the grant money include: sponsoring dances where anti-tobacco messages are read and having students fill out surveys to acquire information about tobacco use.
“On Kick Butts Day, kids are standing up against tobacco companies, and it’s important that elected officials across this country stand with them by supporting proven tobacco prevention measures,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which sponsors Kick Butts Day. “States that have increased cigarette taxes and funded comprehensive prevention programs have dramatically cut smoking among both kids and adults, saved lives by reducing lung cancer and heart disease, and saved millions of dollars in health care costs. Even in these difficult budget times, tobacco prevention is a good investment for Pennsylvania’s kids and taxpayers.”
Officer Frailey believes that smoking is a problem in Tyrone just like it is a problem everywhere else and that a continual fight against tobacco is the only way to get teens to stop smoking.
“I’m not saying it’s a problem anymore here than it is anywhere else. The issue is that it’s a gateway drug. There’s no doubt about it. That’s why our emphasis is on tobacco because I think if we can keep kids from smoking we can keep kids from doing marijuana and heroin and cocaine and all the rest of it,” said Frailey. “ You can’t point out a heroin user that didn’t smoke cigarettes first.”
Frailey went on to say that he believes smoking has always been a problem, but attitudes have changed about it. He wants people to become more aware of the problems and dangers of tobacco use.
“I think what’s happened is we will say things like at least they’re not doing marijuana, and I think that’s a bad way to look at it.”
It is reported that in Pennsylvania, 27.6 percent of high school students smoke, and 36,400 kids become daily smokers every year.
