Local youth tobacco use data indicates that most youth in Coffee County are making great choices when it comes to tobacco use. The 2012-13 PIRE Student Survey conducted by the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition (CCADC) shows that 53% of 10th graders reported not smoking cigarettes, even once, in their lifetime, while 72% of 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders reported not smoking cigarettes, even once, in the past 30 days. Data points to the average age to start using tobacco as 11 years old and many youth are addicted to nicotine by the age of 14. This is a point for concern for the Coalition and the Coffee County Health Council when tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
The Coalition is partnering with the Coffee County Health Council to assist our three local school systems in creating clean air spaces where youth play, educating the public on the dangers of tobacco/nicotine use, and enhancing public health laws already in place regarding tobacco, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. All school buildings and public seating areas in Coffee County are completely “smoke-free” thanks to the state of Tennessee’s Children’s Act for Clean Air (TCA Sec. 39-17-1604) which prohibits:
- Smoking by youth on grounds of all public and private schools.
- Adults smoking within 50 feet of any entrance into the school building.
- Adults smoking in any public seating areas, bleachers and restrooms for school sporting events.
County Health Rankings notes that 26% of adults in Coffee County currently use tobacco. If you or someone you love uses tobacco/nicotine products and wants to become tobacco-free, here are a few free resources to kick start a healthy habit: call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, visit www.smokefree.gov or download a smartphone app at www.quitterscircle.com
Join the Coalition in creating, supporting, and maintaining a safe, healthy, and drug-free community by observing smoke-free laws already in place to preserve clean air and good health for our schools’ young lungs at work and play. Get more information at www.ccantidrug.org, call (931) 570-4484, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
In an effort to support local tobacco/smoke-free campuses the Coalition, in partnership with the Coffee County Health Council and local school districts, will be placing permanent signage at school entrances, pick-up/drop off lines, and sporting areas over the next few months to bring attention to the smoke-free laws. Announcements at sporting events, bathroom placards, informational packets, banners, and increased patrols are other avenues that will be used to inform and educate the public.
