Amber Gurske was looking for obscure facts on tobacco when she unearthed the picture. A discolored, hairy tongue -- caused by tobacco use -- took up the entire frame.
"I didn't know that happened to people's tongues," said the Northwestern High School senior.
After doing some more research, Gurske found it was both "disgusting" and true. So she and classmates Katie Mahocker and Emily Larson added it to their informational display on the dangers of tobacco. Their DECA project, "Be Smart, Don't Start," was presented to Northwestern Middle School students Wednesday during a Red Ribbon Week event.
Sometimes, Gurske said, the dangers of drugs and alcohol are shoved down students' throats.
"The key to doing this is finding facts and pictures they don't see," she said, and adding interesting facts.
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For example, smoking two packs a day will cost a smoker about $1,800 every year. That's enough to buy 14 Nintendo DS game systems, Gurske said. That's also the reason advertisers target youth ages 11-13.
"You guys right now are in their target market," she warned the middle schoolers.
Some of the facts the DECA students dug up were even new to them, such as the hairy tongue and the fact that one of the ingredients in cigarettes is rocket fuel. Others appeal to youth, such as the fact that cigarette smoke can affect pets.
The DECA project included a display as well as a Power Point presentation. Gurske had about four minutes to share her information with small groups of students before they rotated to different stations -- jumping rope, shooting baskets, answering questions or even shooting toy guns.
Gurske said she got plenty of surprised looks from students. At the end of her presentation she asked each group if they planned to stay tobacco free.
"The best way to avoid tobacco is to never start," Gurske said.
The DECA students will bring a more in-depth presentation to fourth and fifth grade students at Northwestern Elementary School next week. In addition, they will raise money for the American Cancer Society during "miracle minutes" at various NHS basketball games. During half-time, one minute will be put on the clock. Following a short announcement about the effects of smoking several buckets will be passed through the crowd for people to put spare change in.
