Mat-Su high school students kick butts during national tobacco free event

WASILLA — High School students across the Mat-Su are rallying with other students in Alaska and the Lower 48 for the during the national tobacco free event, Kick Butts Day today at 11:11 a.m. Students will encourage their peers to advocate against the use of tobacco, reject the tobacco companies’ notorious marketing methods, and lobby for local legislation to make future generations “tobacco-free.”

Around the state, students will participate in different ways, from tobacco health effects education to rallies at state capitols. Participating high schools in the Mat-Su include, Wasilla, Susitna Valley, Mat-Su Career and Tech, Palmer, and Burchell High School. The students will craft their own posters and sign other posters. They will open up the dialogue and encourage their peers to be avoid using tobacco. The Wasilla Museum will also join in and make posters at their building.

According to a recent press release, on Kick Butts Day, students and health advocates are calling on elected officials to enact effective strategies that draws out a “roadmap to a tobacco-free generation.” These strategies include tobacco tax increases, comprehensive smoke-free laws, raising the tobacco sale age to 21, well-funded tobacco prevention programs and banning the sale of flavored tobacco products.

“In Alaska, health advocates are pushing for a comprehensive, statewide smoke-free law to protect everyone’s right to breathe clean air,” stated in the press release.

11.1 percent of Alaskan high school students currently smoke tobacco; and an average of 600 people die each year due to tobacco use, with 438 million dollars’ worth of medical bills, according to the press release. Since 2000, number of high school smokers has fallen by 71 percent across the nation. Tobacco use remains to be the top killer on the list of preventable deaths. The new generation may be smoking less cigarettes on average, getting blasted with information warning against the dangers, but they are facing a new creature entirely, vaping. Anti-tobacco advocates often state that the vaping products market heavily to children with flavors like bubblegum and that vape users are prone to eventually pick up cigarettes.

All events will take place on the same day, students united under the same cause. For a full list of Kick Butts Day activities in Alaska, visit: www.kickbuttsday.org/map. For more information about tobacco, that includes state-by-state statistics, visit: www.tobaccofreekids.org.