FACT Members come together to prevent youth from using tobacco

Students at Northwestern High School participated in a Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco workshop recently.

FACT Field Specialist Alex Hipp traveled from Milwaukee to empower the students at Northwestern High School and remind them that their voices really do matter.

FACT is a youth-led movement that takes action and creates change. They do it by exposing Big Tobacco’s dirty secrets and deceptive practices. They empower Wisconsin teens to stand up to an industry that is lying and by understanding that FACT’s fight is with the tobacco industry, not smokers. We all have to make our own decision. FACT just wants it to be an informed one.

With over 6,000 members across the state, FACT is making an impact. Youth smoking rates have dropped from 17 percent in 2009 to 13 percent in 2012. The students at Northwestern have helped create the new normal through completing FACT activities on a monthly basis. Their activities are large, noticeable and take place at school and the community for everyone to see.

The fight is not over; Big Tobacco uses their marketing skills to target youth. With brightly packaged and candy flavored products youth are easily attracted. These other tobacco products are also cheaper than traditional cigarettes, making them easier to obtain. One out of every seven Wisconsin teenagers still uses tobacco.

Northwestern High School FACT members have committed to use their voice and their stories to make a difference. They know that if they don’t fight back, Big Tobacco wins!

Tags: news, schools, youth, education