Teens are being recruited to talk to other teens about the dangers and expense of smoking.
Looking for a New Year's resolution? A group of Douglas County teen-agers has a suggestion. Stop smoking.
The teens are part of an effort spearheaded by the Douglas County Health Improvement Project (CHIP). The simple slogan they are promoting on area billboards: "Life is FREE Death costs $3.50 a pack."
It's a message they hope will resonate with other teens who are taking up the smoking habit.
This is not a small problem. In fact, it is a far greater issue than many adults might imagine. An estimated 32 percent of county teens smoke cigarettes, according to Susan Anderson, executive director of CHIP.
It's ironic that, decades after the surgeon general identified the health hazards of smoking, so many young people apparently are ignoring the message. Some studies indicate the greatest increase in smokers is among teen-age girls. Some of them may be just experimenting, but others may find that the addictive effects of smoking will make it a habit that is difficult to leave behind.
CHIP specifically brought teens into its anti-smoking effort because it believed teen-age smokers might pay more attention to a message crafted by people their own age. The "Life is FREE" slogan they came up with reveals the stark reality of smoking.
It speaks to teen smokers in a couple of special ways. First, it reminds them that smoking is a deadly habit that is almost certain to have serious health consequences if it is continued. That message may be lost on youths in their invincible teen years. So let's talk about money. How much are you spending on that smoking habit every day or every week? That $3.50 a pack could buy a couple of gallons of gasoline or a snack at a fast-food restaurant. It's an expensive habit for a teen with only an allowance or a part-time job.
The goal of the CHIP program is to cut teen smoking in half in the county by 2010. That's a tall order, but CHIP clearly is being creative in putting together an anti-smoking package designed to speak to local teens. Involving teens in developing that message is a great first step.
"Life is FREE Death costs $3.50 a pack." It's something for smokers of all ages to think about.
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