t’s high time for anti-smoking activists in America’s Dairyland to light up a victory cig err, uh lamp as a biannual survey conducted by Wisconsin Department of Health Services showed smoking rates among the state’s youth have decreased dramatically relative to two years ago. To be exact, smoking rates have fallen 15 among high school students surveyed, with a 9 drop in middle school student smokers as well. Overall, the survey estimates 17.7 of high schools in the state smoke cigarettes, down from just over 20 in the previous tally. Middle school smoking is not nearly as wide-spread of an issue, occurring among only 3.9 of students, compared to 4.3 in 2008. Still, it is important to remind junior high kids about the pitfalls of cigarettes as grades 6 through 8 represent particularly impressionable times in a young person’s development.![]()
It is not immediately clear what has been the most successful factor in lowering the smoking rates, though Governor Jim Doyle postulates it’s a combination between coordinated statewide education efforts and notable federal tax increases, making smoking too expensive a happy for students with very limited disposable income to take up. Many optimistic parents, administrators and community members give a fair share of credit to local and nationwide anti-smoking campaigns, bent on conveying the truth behind cigarette smoking and dispelling the “cool guy” image cigarettes have enjoyed well past their welcome. High school and middle school students are part particularly vulnerable to being allured by the faade as close 80 of all smokers have their first cigarette before age 18. With an estimated 1,000 new kids lighting up every day, it’s no wonder some youth turn to the “everyone’s doing it” excuse.One local organization that helps to alleviate peer pressure is FACT or Fight Against Corporate Tobacco. FACT was founded in 2001 by 300 Wisconsin teens as a youth-led movement aiming to expose the underbelly of Big Tobacco and empower young people statewide to resist temptation and stay smoke free.
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