Central Louisiana teens lead anti-tobacco initiative

ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) – On Saturday, highschool college students from throughout Central Louisiana gathered on the Alexandria Mall to encourage folks to place down their tobacco merchandise.

The scholars are concerned within the statewide Subsequent Period program in partnership with the Central Louisiana Space Well being Schooling Heart.

On the Mall, the scholars had a show of among the dangerous well being results tobacco use results in, in addition to sources on easy methods to give up the dependancy. Except for cigarettes and chewing tobacco, the scholars additionally centered on vaping, as teenage nicotine dependancy now typically begins with vaping.

“Round Louisiana, about 40% of excessive schoolers vape or smoke or might even dip,” mentioned Addison Jacobsen, a junior in highschool and Subsequent Period member. “These numbers are growing and you may see if you happen to look by any statistics within the U.S. whereas smoking cigarettes is definitely lowering, vaping goes up, tragically going up, so it’s changing into an enormous downside and is continuous to, so that is the very best time to be combating this proper now.”

Though the scholars spoke with anybody concerning the hazard of tobacco use, the occasion was focusing on different teenagers. Group Useful resource Coordinator for Area Six at Central Louisiana AHEC mentioned having the highschool college students ship the message concerning the risks of tobacco use to their friends can typically be extra highly effective than listening to the identical message from adults.

“It’s vital as a result of teenagers actually take heed to their friends greater than they take heed to us telling them to give up smoking,” mentioned Lee. “So, by the kids going out and doing their very own initiatives amongst their friends, they actually have a higher influence.”

To be taught extra about Central Louisiana AHEC, CLICK HERE.

To be taught extra about Subsequent Period, CLICK HERE.

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