Kids Promote Kicking Cigarette Habits

In Oklahoma, tobacco's daily death toll is 16, and yet their replacements-- new smokers, seem to keep right on coming. But one group of kids is trying to change that.

Wednesday, March 25th 2009, 3:00 pm

By: News 9


By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY - Wednesday, March 25 is National Kick Butts Day, a day dedicated against the use and youth-centered marketing of tobacco products. A series of events is happening around the country including at the state capitol.

In Oklahoma, tobacco's daily death toll is 16, and yet their replacements-- new smokers, seem to keep right on coming. But one group of kids is trying to change that.

An organization called Students Working Against Tobacco, SWAT, took their message to the state Capitol for National Kick Butts Day hoping someone with the power to do something would listen.

The 1,200 flags the students from Crooked Oak schools put in the ground, one for each tobacco-related death in the U.S. per day, underscored just how deadly serious their message ‘Don't Smoke' is.

"It's creating awareness about the tobacco industry, about the deceptive practices, about their strategies to attract new replacement smokers" said Hiawatha Bouldin with Eagle Ridge Institute.

Twelve-year-old Charity Maynard wants people who are tempted to start smoking, not to.

"So they would have a chance that my grandfather didn't have a chance to live" Charity said.

Charity's grandfather died of emphysema before she was born.

"I never really had a chance to meet him and I wish I did. I wish he was still alive here today," Charity said.

"To me, my dad was a great guy, and she would have learned a lot from him," mother Sherri Maynard said.

The students took their information cards and personal stories inside the Capitol and found some lawmakers who have personal experiences of their own with tobacco.

Senator Debbe Leftwich lost her mother and a grandfather to emphysema.

"I've seen what it's done in my own family, and so, you know, the quicker we can get to these, I mean, they're smoking younger and younger," Sen. Leftwich said. "And so I'm willing to spread the word, talk to people, make sure they understand we have to do everything we can to see these kids don't start that nasty habit."

One of the big concerns this group has is the way they say tobacco companies try to lure kids into tobacco use through targeted advertising and flavored chewing tobacco.

State lawmakers rejected legislation this session that would have banned smoking in all workplaces, meaning all restaurants and bars. But they are considering creating a task force to study such a ban.

More information about quitting:

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

March 25th, 2009

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024