Gulf County SWAT Works For Smoke-Free Grounds

Eighty-eight people die every day in Florida from tobacco-related illnesses.

That's the message Gulf County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) demonstrated to the community Nov. 19, as part of the Great American Smokeout activities.

SWAT chapters from Wewahitchka Elementary, Middle and High Schools gathered Thursday at Rich's IGA grocery store in Wewahitchka, while the Port St. Joe Elementary SWAT chapter was at Duren's Piggly Wiggly in Port St. Joe. They used symbolic visuals, such as balloons, to demonstrate the 88 people who would pass away that day alone from tobacco-related illnesses. The students and their SWAT coordinators greeted the public and waved at passing motorists, while working to get across the importance of making businesses and the public aware of the need for tobacco-free grounds, such as all workplaces.

Thursday's celebration was the 34th Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The national daylong event challenges people to stop using tobacco for 24 hours or commit to a plan of becoming smoke-free hours in hopes of encouraging them to quit permanently.

SWAT is Florida's statewide youth organization that works to educate and mobilize the state's young people to revolt against and reveal the tactics of Big Tobacco. The organization was formed in 1998 as a result of Florida's 1997 landmark agreement to settle a lawsuit against the tobacco industry. The late Governor Lawton Chiles and the State of Florida sued the tobacco industry over the state's increasing Medicaid expenses caused by tobacco-related diseases among Floridians. The goals of SWAT are to prevent and reduce tobacco use among young people and to protect them from secondhand smoke. SWAT members promote activities that educate their peers and policy makers about the need to change social norms related to tobacco.

According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) website, the tobacco industry spends $969 million every year to market their products in Florida, more than in any other state. Again, according to the FDOH site, 72 young people in Florida become regular smokers every day, and 369,999 young people in the state who are alive today will die prematurely from smoking.

For those who are interested in quitting, the Florida Quitline offers free counseling and nicotine replacement therapies for those who qualify (while supplies last).  Visit www.floridaquitline.com or call 1.877.U.CAN.NOW for more information.