Story Courtesy of the Jefferson County Health Department
Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) in Jefferson County is standing up to the electronic cigarette industry for the 24th annual Kick Butts Day on Wednesday, March 20.
This national day of activism, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, encourages youth to raise awareness of the problem of tobacco use in their community and urge elected officials to take action to protect kids from tobacco.
SWAT’s theme this year is “Not A Lab Rat!” and empowers Florida youth to declare they are not part of a ‘social experiment’ for the addiction and harms of e-cigarettes.
While e-cigarette companies continue to deny marketing their addictive products to young people, the fact is that one in four Florida youth (ages 11-17) tried e-cigarettes in 2018, nearly one in four Florida high school students reported current use in 2018 – an astounding 58 percent increase compared to 2017.
In Jefferson County, youth e-cigarette use rates reach 13 percent, an 11 percent increase since 2012. That is why this Kick Butts Day, Jefferson County SWAT is holding their Kick Butts Day event at the Monticello Opera House on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The e-cigarette industry is targeting our generation with their addictive products,” said Tyler, a member of SWAT. “We don’t know what the long-term effects are, and we don’t think it’s right for us to be the ‘lab rats’ for their ongoing experiment.”
“The tobacco industry makes e-cigs appealing to teens with flavors that attract them” said Naila, a member of Jefferson County SWAT. “Teens don’t know what they’re getting into.”
Florida’s youth are fighting Big Tobacco by exposing the e-cigarette industry’s efforts to addict their generation.
As a response to the skyrocketing use of e-cigarettes among youth, the student-led organization launched its “Not A Lab Rat” campaign in October 2018.
Throughout the year SWAT chapters will work to dispel myths and educate their peers on the truth about e-cigarettes, commemorating on the second annual statewide “Not A Lab Rat Day” on October 23, 2019.
The fact is that e-cigarettes are not harmless.
Many contain nicotine, among other harmful chemicals, ultra-fine particles and cancer-causing toxins. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.
SWAT aims to empower, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against Big Tobacco. SWAT is a movement of youth working together to de-glamorize tobacco use. Their efforts aim to shape tobacco free norms, make tobacco less desirable, less acceptable and less accessible. For more information or to get involved, visit swatflorida.com.
About Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT)
SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco and the e-cigarette industry. SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco free future.
To learn more about Students Working Against Tobacco, visit swatflorida.com or follow us on Instagram at @swatflorida.
About Tobacco Free Florida
The department’s Tobacco Free Florida campaign is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. Since the program began in 2007, more than 212,000 Floridians have successfully quit using one of Tobacco Free Florida's free tools and services. There are now approximately 451,000 fewer adult smokers in Florida than there was 10 years ago, and the state has saved $17.7 billion in health care costs. To learn more about Tobacco Free Florida’s Quit Your Way services, visit tobaccofreeflorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or on Twitter at twitter.com/tobaccofreefla.
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