Thursday, Nov. 20, is a day set aside to mark the Great American Smokeout. It is a day that asks people to take on the challenge to pledge not to start using tobacco and stop using tobacco products if you do.
Tobacco has retained its unquestionable rank as the number one cause of preventable death and disease in Wisconsin, causing approximately 8,000 deaths per year and 450,000 nationally. This is a higher toll than deaths due to alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders and suicide combined. With 8,000 funerals a year, it seems a bit shocking that about 20 percent of adults and 13 percent of high school students in Wisconsin are still using tobacco products.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, our Oregon High School FACT group is spreading the truth about tobacco. FACT is a statewide tobacco prevention program. We will be speaking out about the dangers of tobacco and the candy flavored tobacco marketing that targets teens. Studies show that 80 percent of all smokers start before the age of 18. Approximately 46,000 Wisconsin students are current tobacco users.
FACT students at OHS will host activities throughout the day on Thursday, Nov. 20, to ask students to pledge not to start using tobacco or how they can get help if they want to quit.
If you want to learn more about the state youth driven FACT movement check us out at facebook.com/FACTmovement
Samantha Abel
FACT OHS State Board
Cayce Swenson
OHS FACT
Abigail Joy Crigger
OHS FACT