Smokebusters influence teens to be smoke free

Smokebuster educator Gerri Smith, third from left, works with Holcomb High School students to create a negative cigarette advertisement. [Click to enlarge]

Area high school students have been learning some shocking facts and information about cigarette smoking thanks to Smokebusters.

Smokebusters influences youth to become critical thinkers, to avoid tobacco use and to become advocates for a tobacco-free environment.

The program is funded by a combination of sources including local, state and federal funds from the Chronic Disease Primary Prevention and the Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as non-profit funds from the American Lung Association.

"Smokebusters began three years ago in the northeastern part of the state," said Geri Smith, health educator for the Dunklin and Pemiscot County Health Departments. "This a program that only exists in Missouri and is the only program like it."

Smith has been traveling to area high schools to help students build skills in decision-making, problem solving and advocacy.

The first year of the program is titled, "Teens Against Tobacco Use," and establishes teams of about 10 students that are committed to the three-year project. The objective for this year is to empower teens to stay tobacco free, to serve as role models for younger children and peers and to become agents for change in the community.

Holcolmb students are in their first year of the program and were taught to understand how tobacco advertising and promotion deceives youth.

"Ads for cigarettes tease and fool you," said Smith as she held up an advertisement for cigarettes that featured models walking along a beach. "The tobacco companies use pretty models to get you to think that's what you'll look like if you smoke."

In the second year of the program, "Stop Tobacco Among Many People," the youth focus on working with the media to produce effective radio, television and print anti-tobacco ads. Additionally, they collaborate with school boards, city councils and state officials to work toward environmental policy changes.

"Almost 450,000 people die a year from tobacco use," Smith told Delta C-7 students, who are in their second year of the program. "3,000 teens become regular smokers a day and the average new teen smoker is 13 years old."

The teens had shocking looks on their faces when they were told these facts and Smokebusters hopes this information will keep them from lighting up.

When the students make it to the final year, "Busting Big Tobacco," they are empowered to ask for environmental and policy change at target sites based on knowledge gained in the prior years.

"Throughout the three years, the students present programs to others in their schools and communities," said Smith. "They will give presentations to younger students to teach them the dangers of cigarette smoking."

Smith said that Smokebusters can be taught to students at any school that desires the program. She will be working with students at Senath and Southland schools in October.

"I think Smokebusters will be very successful, the younger kids are already looking up to the older kids when they talk to them about the dangers of cigarette smoking," said Smith. "This is still a new program and we're just now getting our foot in the door."