Jacklyn Damm, Tobacco Prevention Specialist at the Richland County Health Department will be presenting Kick Butts Day hosted by Savage Junior High and High School on April 11.
As an annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco use, Kick Butts Day rotates around Richland County schools each year. This year Savage will feature five activities to demonstrate important consequences of tobacco use.
Posters around the school will inform students that across the nation 1200 people die every day from a tobacco related disease. 100 rubber rats will be hidden around the school for students to find and exchange for prizes. The rats represent arsenic, or rat poison, which is found in tobacco products like cigarettes, spit tobacco, and vapes. A display board showing damage caused by vape devices exploding will demonstrate that electronic cigarettes can damage lungs and may explode in addition to containing a highly concentrated amount of nicotine. A candy store comparing candy flavored tobacco and actual candy will illustrate how Big Tobacco markets towards minors. Mr. Gross Mouth, a display of oral diseases will show students how using spit or smokeless tobacco increases risk for cancer of the mouth, gums, and throat. It also increases risk for gum disease, stained teeth and tooth loss—Montanans that use tobacco on average have six fewer teeth than Montanans who have never used tobacco products. Spit tobacco also absorbs into the body faster which also increases risk for nicotine addiction.
For more information please contact Jacklyn at the Richland County Health Department at 406-433-2207. The MT Quitline is also available for all tobacco users including vaping. Call 1-800-Quit-Now or go online to QuitNowMontana.com. The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program plays an important role in Partnership for Promise, a subcommittee of Communities in Action that strives to work together to with the youth of Richland County to create an ongoing, healthy, and supportive environment.
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