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Fighting teen tobacco use one song at a time
Ten-year-old Tyler Sanders and Joe Bias, 11, participate in a Guitar Hero tournament as part of Kick Butts Day to stand against tobacco Thursday, April 3, 2008, at Chesapeake Middle School.
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CHESAPEAKE -- When it comes to spreading the message about the dangers of tobacco, there's no avenue not worth traveling.
This week, Family Guidance Center of Ironton held "Guitar Hero" tournaments as part of Kick Butts Day at two Lawrence County middle schools, challenging students' skills on the video game and offering them more reasons to say no.
"I told them we promote young and old people living a healthy lifestyle," prevention and development manager Mollie Stevens said to more than 40 Chesapeake Middle School students Thursday afternoon. "That segued to why we're here, to have good and clean fun."
In addition, the center was recording public service announcements to enter into a nationwide contest. Prevention specialist Sara Tackett said they are asking the students, "What's in a cigarette," hoping to further enlighten them on the harmful contents.
"Compared to past generations, the kids are a lot smarter, but there's still a lot of facts they don't know," Tackett said, adding that stressing the message in the early middle school years can help them say "no" later.
Parent volunteer Kim Watts was thankful the center sponsored an event for her son and his classmates. Now, she hopes she'll have an easier time talking to him about cigarettes and other harmful drugs.
Playing "Guitar Hero" also was fun for the kids. Emanuel Jaime, an junior at Chesapeake High School, crossed the parking lot to the middle school looking for a good competition. At the same time, he knows he also is a role model for the younger kids who see the high schoolers every day.
"We've got to set examples for the young kids," Jaime said.
Winners at this weeks' events are:
Rock Hill Middle: Dustin Honaker, Jared Howard and Sarah Bankston.
Chesapeake Middle: At easy level, Mikey Cremeans, Evan Lane and Coleton Sowards; medium level, Drew McKenzie, Eli Johnson and Morgan Settles; second-chance winners, Trenton McCoy, Andrew Hardy and Steven Watts.
