According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36.4 percent of U.S. high school students smoke, while 15.8 percent of high school boys use smokeless tobacco. More than 5 million children now under the age of 18 will die prematurely from tobacco-related disease. It's time for our voice to be heard. And it's time for the people who make our state laws to protect us from the dangers of tobacco. We need tobacco prevention and education programs.
Smoking remains a serious problem among youth in our nation.
The Smoke-Free Class of 2000 has been battling this issue for more than a decade. But it is just one part of the solution. We know prevention programs work. To win the fight against youth smoking it is imperative for state legislators to heed the Valentine's Day message our young people are sending today. They also are holding a Smoke-Free Dance.