Reality Check students meet with state lawmakers
Tobacco-Free Chenango's Reality Check youth from Bainbridge-Guilford and Norwich High Schools with Assemblyman Cliff Crouch at the Capitol on February 4. (Submitted photo)
BAINBRIDGE – Tobacco-Free Chenango's Reality Check youth from Bainbridge-Guilford and Norwich High Schools visited Albany last Monday to meet with state lawmakers to discuss their work towards lowering the statewide smoking rate and also unmet tobacco control needs.
Reality Check youth leaders Mackenzee Barton, Nicole McKay, and Carly Palmer from Bainbridge-Guilford High School, and Ethan Conroy and Katlyn Gould from Norwich High School met with Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and Senator Fred Akshar for Legislative Education Day at the Capitol on February 4 to discuss local tobacco control efforts and the unmet needs of low-income communities.
"The fact that they were willing to sit down and actually listen to us was really, really nice of them, especially in their busy lives," said McKay, who noted that the trip required a lot of preparation and rehearsals on behalf of the Reality Check youth.
Each of the students spoke to Akshar and Crouch on a variety of tobacco-related topics, including big tobacco companies targeting youth in their marketing, the belief that movies including smoking should be rated 'R', and also about the Reality Check of Norwich and Bainbridge's upcoming Community Ice Skating Party, which the students have given the slogan, 'Skate––Don't Vape.'
While cigarette smoking trends in youth have declined 82 percent since 2000, the trends show a slight increase in youth smoking from 2016 to 2018. Furthermore, electronic cigarette use in youth has risen drastically––160 percent between 2014 to 2018.
The students said they have seen a rise of electronic cigarette usage with their classmates, and that a good percentage of their peers have misconceptions about its safety relative to cigarettes.
"[An electronic cigarette] still has the same substances in it," said Barton, who spoke to lawmakers about big tobacco targeting youth and how the age of the new average smoker in New York State is 13. "The things that get you are the flavors and the smells of it."
The Reality Check youth also spoke about how low-income populations are targeted by big tobacco companies. The students spoke about how low-income individuals without transportation are often the target of advertising at bodegas and convenient stores from an early age.
Palmer said, "A lot of people that do buy [tobacco products], most of them but not all, do come from low-income homes. And that's another problem, where they could be, if they have kids, spending it on kids or spending it on school; instead they're wasting their money on something that is not even good for them."
The students all agreed that they felt their concerns were heard by Assemblyman Crouch and Senator Akshar.
The Reality Check youth meet once a week to discuss different initiatives they can employ at a local level to lower tobacco usage at all ages.
"We're not anti-smoker, we're anti-tobacco companies," said McKay.
Weather permitting from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, the Reality Check of Norwich and Bainbridge-Guilford will present at Community Ice Skating Party at the Borden Avenue Skate Park in Norwich.
The event will include food, prizes, and tobacco-free fun, and is free to attend. The Reality Check students said to check the City of Norwich Youth Bureau Facebook page for weather updates pertaining to the event.
Reality Check youth leaders Mackenzee Barton, Nicole McKay, and Carly Palmer from Bainbridge-Guilford High School, and Ethan Conroy and Katlyn Gould from Norwich High School met with Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and Senator Fred Akshar for Legislative Education Day at the Capitol on February 4 to discuss local tobacco control efforts and the unmet needs of low-income communities.
"The fact that they were willing to sit down and actually listen to us was really, really nice of them, especially in their busy lives," said McKay, who noted that the trip required a lot of preparation and rehearsals on behalf of the Reality Check youth.
Each of the students spoke to Akshar and Crouch on a variety of tobacco-related topics, including big tobacco companies targeting youth in their marketing, the belief that movies including smoking should be rated 'R', and also about the Reality Check of Norwich and Bainbridge's upcoming Community Ice Skating Party, which the students have given the slogan, 'Skate––Don't Vape.'
While cigarette smoking trends in youth have declined 82 percent since 2000, the trends show a slight increase in youth smoking from 2016 to 2018. Furthermore, electronic cigarette use in youth has risen drastically––160 percent between 2014 to 2018.
The students said they have seen a rise of electronic cigarette usage with their classmates, and that a good percentage of their peers have misconceptions about its safety relative to cigarettes.
"[An electronic cigarette] still has the same substances in it," said Barton, who spoke to lawmakers about big tobacco targeting youth and how the age of the new average smoker in New York State is 13. "The things that get you are the flavors and the smells of it."
The Reality Check youth also spoke about how low-income populations are targeted by big tobacco companies. The students spoke about how low-income individuals without transportation are often the target of advertising at bodegas and convenient stores from an early age.
Palmer said, "A lot of people that do buy [tobacco products], most of them but not all, do come from low-income homes. And that's another problem, where they could be, if they have kids, spending it on kids or spending it on school; instead they're wasting their money on something that is not even good for them."
The students all agreed that they felt their concerns were heard by Assemblyman Crouch and Senator Akshar.
The Reality Check youth meet once a week to discuss different initiatives they can employ at a local level to lower tobacco usage at all ages.
"We're not anti-smoker, we're anti-tobacco companies," said McKay.
Weather permitting from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, the Reality Check of Norwich and Bainbridge-Guilford will present at Community Ice Skating Party at the Borden Avenue Skate Park in Norwich.
The event will include food, prizes, and tobacco-free fun, and is free to attend. The Reality Check students said to check the City of Norwich Youth Bureau Facebook page for weather updates pertaining to the event.
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