Students urged to stop smoking

Wednesday was a time for children in Warren County to kick butts, at least those connected to cigarettes. April 2 was National Kick Butts Day.

The day is set aside for thousands of young people across America to take the lead in the fight against big tobacco companies and increase awareness regarding the dangers of smoking.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each day in the United States, approximately 4,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 start cigarette smoking, and an estimated 1,140 young people become daily cigarette smokers.

For the 13th year in a row, this program unites adults and kids across the country to fight against youth tobacco use. The annual event is called the largest, youth-led, anti-tobacco initiative in the country.

According to statistics offered by the CDC, 23 percent of high school students in the U.S. are current cigarette smokers, 13 percent are current cigar smokers, and 10 percent of males are current smokeless tobacco users. In middle school, 8 percent of students are cigarette smokers, and 5 percent are cigar smokers.

Activities Wednesday focused on turning the tide on tobacco use. In Warren County, all fifth-graders were given a Kick Butts Day T-shirt thanks to a ‘Smoking Cessation Grant’ received by school nurse Debi Martin.

Also funded by the grant was a billboard contest at the high school. Students were instructed to submit a drawing that contained a no smoking message. The three winners would get $100 each and their signs placed as billboards along Highway 70S in Warren County for three months.

To learn more about Kick Butts Day visit kickbuttsday.org.