The Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, W.Va.

Local News

March 4, 2013

Tribune Readers’ Views — Monday, March 4, 2013



Praise for young people who don’t use tobacco

Attention is often focused on the negative. Sure, we could talk about the harm that tobacco use does to the body, the number of deaths it causes and on and on. Bottom line: Tobacco use is not good for you.

Let’s put some attention on the positive. There are successes in reducing smoking among West Virginia youth (there have yet to be any declines in smoking among West Virginia adults). The prevalence of current cigarette smoking has significantly declined among high school and middle school students. The prevalence of “never having smoked a cigarette, not even 1-2 puffs” has significantly increased among high school and middle school students. Fewer students are smoking cigarettes and more students are choosing not to.

Congratulations to the 78% of high school students in West Virginia who don’t smoke cigarettes and the 92% of middle school students in West Virginia who don’t smoke cigarettes. Good for  you. Keep it up. (Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov)

For assistance to stop smoking, contact West Virginia Tobacco QuitLine at 877-966-8784.

Aletha Stolar

Fayette County Family

Resource Network and Tobacco Prevention Committee

Fayetteville

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