Cumberland County Schools spending this week educating students on smoking and providing resources to those struggling to quit.
School Health Supervisor Marsha Polson said the initiative is a group effort, partnering with the local Cumberland County Health Department and Cumberland County Anti Drug Coalition. The goal is to work toward preventing vaping and other forms of tobacco use in the community and the schools. Polson said the organizations began promoting Quit Week for both families and the students.
“And, you know, just to educate the students about what they, the damage they may be doing to their lungs or their cardiovascular, as well as other bodily systems by, you know, smoking or vaping,” Polson said.
Polson said the week will direct students toward resources to support them through quitting, such as hotlines. They also want to teach parents how to talk to their children about vaping and consuming other forms of nicotine.
“We’ve sent out a few messages on our parent reminder about quit week,” And we look forward to opening that conversation up, as well, in the schools to promote quit week.”
Polson said this initiative is important because community data has identified this as an issue. Students took part in a survey, asked many questions like their use of nicotine, vaping and other products.
Polson said the average age for a person to experience an initiation to cigarette use is 13.
“That’s a sobering thought, and we want to make sure that our kids are, that they know it’s a risk,” Polson said. “And they know that it’s something that they have to, look at that risk and make the choice to live better.”
Polson said the initiative is taking the time to identify those risks and encourage those struggling to reach out to the hotline. Polson said she encourages families to reach out to the hotline to learn how to help a struggling child or family member quit.
Polson said parents are a vital piece of educating students, having an open ended conversation about what they are experiencing. Polson said they may be making decisions that are different and need support through that.
“The family themselves are really vital to that key to success in this fight because, really, it’s a hazard to their health,” Polson said.