Peer Leaders advocate against big tobacco

Students from across Massachusetts marched outside the State House in an effort to make their voices heard and inform representatives about the harmful effects of tobacco and how the tobacco industries specifically target youth. On March 18, 2015 the high school’s Peer Leaders group took a trip to Boston and joined in on this effort to empower youth to stand out, speak up and take control against Big Tobacco as members of the 84 Movement.

The 84 movement is a group of youth that represent the 84% of high school students who did not smoke or use any tobacco products before the start of the tobacco use prevention group. As of now, the percentage of high school student under the age of 18 who do not use any tobacco products has raised to 89%. 

Representatives from South Hadley included Jailene Rodriguez, Tara Bainbridge, Sean Doyle, Maritza Roman, Jake Roux and Mackenzie Bouchard traveled to and from Boston with other teens in the 84 movement.

Many of the students at the event had personal connections to the harmful effects of tobacco. “I am involved with the 84 movement because my grandfather died from smoking a long time ago,” said junior Jailene Rodriguez. “I really wish I got a chance to meet him.”

At the event, the Peer Leader group met with the the President of the Massachusetts Senate Stanley Rosenberg and Representative John Scibak. While at the meeting, students spoke about what the 84 is, and what their chapter is doing to prevent the use of tobacco products among teens. Students also spoke about the tactics that the tobacco industry uses to target youth. In other words, tobacco products are ‘cheap, sweet and easy to get’.

“The visits to legislators at the State House gives young people a chance to have their voices heard by those in power to put real legislation into place,” said Peer Leader Director and Drug and Alcohol Counselor Karen Walsh-Pio. “The staffers and the politicians listen and take the concerns of the young people quite seriously.”

At the event, students learned that not only are E-Cigarettes not approved by the FDA, meaning there is no regulation as to what is put into them, but they are just as harmful as regular cigarettes. E-Cigarettes are not proven to help someone quit smoking and they are not always just water vapor. When using one of these, one could be inhaling thousands of unknown chemicals.  

At the end of the day, students had lunch and took many selfies with the people that they had spoken to during the day. Not only did the students have the opportunity to have their voice heard, but they also had an opportunity to share their personal stories with both Representative Scibak and other members of the State House as well.

Walsh Pio said her involvement in the 84 movement stems from her hope to see teens avoid all tobacco products. “I also want to empower young people and perhaps some of these kids will be inspired to head into careers in political science, public health, social work, law or community organizing.”

Roman may be reached at [email protected]