Students work on creating tobacco-free schools

Tucumcari High School students reached out to school board officials advocating to make school grounds truly tobacco-free and encouraged younger students to avoid using tobacco products.

"We are trying to get tobacco completely out of our schools," said Jordan Marquez, THS ninth grader.

Marquez, along with several high school students gave a presentation on Monday to the Tucumcari Schools Board of Education.

Marquez said the presentation outlined how the board could amend, change their existing tobacco-free policy to eliminate all forms of tobacco at school functions and campuses.

"This includes e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products," Marquez said.

The students participated in the National Kick Butts Day event, sponsored by The New Mexico Department of Health's 24/7 campaign.

Marquez said the event is designed for the high school students to interact with the middle school students, to advocate a tobacco-free lifestyle.

"The middle school students respond well to the input from their peers," said Ahlivia Mattocks, 24/7 Youth Evolvement.

Mattocks said the middle school students are more receptive when someone they know talks to them about issues like tobacco. She said the youth often look up to the high school students, this creates an environment of trust where the message has a higher chance of being absorbed.

"This also gives the high school students a chance to combat the tobacco industry's targeted advertising of their siblings and friends," Mattock said. "These youth are the demographic tobacco companies are trying to reach."

Marquez said it is important to reach out to the students while they are young. He said there are so many gimmicks being used to attract the youth.

"It's easy to get taken in by the advertising," Marquez said. "Only by raising awareness, encouraging a tobacco-free lifestyle can we ensure the health of our youth."