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24-7 Campaign Promotes Tobacco-Free Culture In Schools

KRWG

The Centers for Disease Control reports every year, smoking kills more people than HIV, alcohol, illegal drugs, motor vehicle accidents and gun accidents combined.

‘24- 7’ is an anti-tobacco campaign that focuses on young people promoting a smoke-free culture in public schools. According to the U.S. Health and Human Services department, nearly 90 percent of American smokers started before age 18. ‘24-7’ is an anti-tobacco campaign working in schools to emphasize its dangers.
 
We are doing the 24-7 campaign and every body is going to sign a banner of what they want to succeed in their life time and what they want to do within their life time and then also we are going to be taking picture pledges, where they hold up a sign that says I love being tobacco free.” Alyssa Wright says

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-xbiHXkgco&feature=youtu.be

Arrowhead Park Early College High School junior Alyssa Wright is a 24-7 campaign volunteer, promoting tobacco-free living among her peers.

“Tobacco is not good for you  which is something that is very important- and so that is really helping overcome this idea of tobacco is ok to use- because now they are hearing it  from the other end  that tobacco is not good – and this causes so many health problems within the future-  which just makes it a lot easier.”
Wright says.

According to Health and Human Services, the rate of young people smoking has actually gone down in the past decade…from ## percent to ## percent.  But the use of e-cigarettes has increased and officials regard those as a gateway to traditional cigarettes.  Tenth grade students who use e-cigarettes are eight times more likely than their peers to smoke tobacco cigarettes. Wright is concerned all the new, different gadgets used to smoke and ‘vape’ and the sweet and fruity flavors can make smoking seem exciting.

It is marketed to kids – I do feel like that – such as different colorful things – or near the bottom where kids can see – different things such as that.” Wrigth says

The 24-7 campaign was organized by Evolvement New Mexico.  Program manager Nicky Besser is coordinating the youth anti-tobacco events across the state. Besser says the health risks of smoking are well known and widespread- but the anti-smoking message is stronger with teens when it is communicated through their friends and peers. 

“Evolvement leaders are extremely effect because they are the ones who are in school and their advocating for their own health and well being – they are knowlegable about the topic and their passionate about it. They want their communities to be healthy – starting with the place they spend most of their time which is their school.” Besser says.

Wright is studying in the Arrowhead medical magnet program with hopes of becoming a combat war doctor in the military. In 2011, 24 percent of military personnel smoked, compared with 19 percent of civilians.  Wright says she has seen the impact first-hand.

“A lot of my family they are veterans, my grand pas were- and sometimes that is some thing  they catch on too- and it is not good for them- and it is something they should stop.” Wright said.

Adolescent tobacco use has seen substantial declines in the last 40 years. Wright says restrictions in tobacco advertising, higher taxes on tobacco products, and smoke-free schools help smokers cut down or quit- but informing people of the potentially fatal health risks as they enter adulthood is the most important approach.

“Sometimes when you are around people- you want to be more like them – people say things like – oh you are not cool if you don’t do this – which is a very bad – it is not a good influences which is something we need to get out of in it’s self – but also I do feel like kids telling each other that it is ok to smoke- it is not going to effect you – oh  it is just one time- that is really putting peer pressure on that one person which is effecting them in the long run.” Writht said.

High school youth leaders like Wright, hosted similar anti-tobacco events in nine schools in New Mexico, including Gadsden High School in Anthony.

To learn more about the 24/7 campaign and free resources available to New Mexico schools, visit 247NewMexico.com.