SWAT Op-Ed Template

Students Working Against Tobacco Gives Florida Youth the Tools They Need To Help Reduce the Tobacco Industry’s Influence and Advocate for Change.

The need for youth to speak up and make their voices heard about the issues they care about is as important as ever, which is why one student-led organization in Florida is leading the way in the fight against the tobacco industry and the addictive products that target youth.

Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) is a statewide youth organization focused on educating, empowering, and mobilizing Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. As a member of the Monroe SWAT chapter, I believe SWAT is an important cause more youth should get involved in. SWAT is an amazing organization who have been fighting for making places smoke free sadly even though people know the risk they are still doing it and it has fallen back on our generation . Despite significant progress over the years, tobacco and e-cigarette use is still prevalent, and the tobacco industry’s antics must be stopped. SWAT is working to change the social norms associated with tobacco, including e-cigarettes.

SWAT has been educating and empowering youth and communities since 1998. SWAT has had several successful initiatives throughout the years. ‘Not a Replacement’ was a statewide campaign where thousands of youth reminded tobacco companies that they are unique individuals with the potential to make a positive impact on their community. ‘Not a Lab Rat’ is the current statewide campaign that focuses on the truth behind e-cigarettes and how youth can stop the spread of misinformation. Through such initiatives, SWAT continues to work toward changing the way people think about tobacco, making it less desirable, less acceptable and less accessible.

My reason for joining SWAT was clear. I joined SWAT due to all of my family using cigarettes and because my generation is seeing what is going on and they think they should do it because older people who are supposed to be our role models are using cigarettes, Tobacco, ect. Joining SWAT helped me by informing me on what these harmful products are and what they can do to our lungs and I have learned how to now inform and reach out to people about this outcome and help them overcome their struggles with it.

In our community, the Monroe SWAT chapter helped make a difference by accepting and inviting more people to join SWAT so we can get the word spread around, we have emailed our government, reached out to our principals and assistant principals about the matter and what have they done to stop this crisis.

There is still work to be done to protect our generation and future generations from the tobacco industry. By working with peers, students can create change that will keep tobacco products out of Monroe and improve the health of our family, friends, and community. SWAT is open to all Florida youth in 6th-12th grade. There is a SWAT chapter in every county in Florida, and some counties also have clubs in schools and community organizations. In Monroe, we have our SWAT team and our meetings are held inside our school. If you are interested in learning more about SWAT and how youth can get involved, contact Kimberly Stevens at 305-619-2915 or at [email protected] or visit www.SWATFlorida.com. I hope that in writing this, more youth are inspired to stand up and speak out against the tobacco industry by joining SWAT.

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