say NO to teen smoking: Right Decisions, Right Now

When I was asked by the good people at Right Decisions, Right Now and We Are Teachers to share information about teens and smoking with my readers, I shook my head in disbelief.

Kids are really still smoking?

Is cigarette smoking still a thing in 2017?

Which kid are really pressuring others to try smoking?

My kids better not ever try smoking.

Heck, my kids’ friends better not pressure them into anything. 

But really–smoking is indeed still a thing, and young people between the ages of 11 and 15 years–or grades 6 to 10–are likely to try smoking for the first time.

Holy.

Right?

That’s basically my kids, who are now 10, 11, and 13.

When I took the time to read through the incredible, free resources from Right Decisions, Right Now, I was amazed. In awe.

And scared.

But what I know from my years in education is that we, as parents and teachers, must address these tough topics with our students.
The more we do, the more informed our children will be and the less likely they will be to cave into pressure from their peers.

I found a ton of great anti-smoking resources from Right Decisions, Right Now, and I’m highlighting my three faves.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Say NO to Teen Smoking — Right Decisions, Right Now:

1.) The Right Decisions, Right Now Resource page is extensive.

You guys, these resources are amazing. They totally rock, and there are so many.

Everything is free, which I love.

You can find:

• brochures
• posters
• a glossary
• videos
• pledge forms
• fact sheets
• websites
• cessation information
• books

And on top of having a boatload of free resources, the site is super-easy to navigate. We’re all busy, so you know that we need easy to read, understand, and find what we need.

2.) Helpful Fact Sheets for Parents and Educators.

First of all, did you know:

• Every day in the United States, approximately 3,600 youths between the ages of 12 and 17 initiate cigarette smoking, and about 1,100 young people become daily smokers.
• Six percent of middle schoolers are current cigarette smokers.
• That number jumps to 20% in high school.
• Four percent of middle school boys and 13% of high school boys are current smokeless tobacco users.
• Nicotine is often the first drug used by young people who use alcohol and other drugs.

More facts just like this can be found on the Right Decisions, Right Now Resource page under ‘Fact Sheet’.

I didn’t know half of these facts, so clearly, I found the Fact Sheets super helpful.

And I really don’t know a lot about e-cigs or other ‘trendy’ nicotine products.

3.) Tons of comprehensive lessons and resources for educators.

If you visit the Right Decisions, Right Now section for Teachers, you’ll be amazed at the wealth of information available.

For grades 5-9, they provide Smart Board activities (these are activities created for teachers’ classroom smart boards, like the Promethean Boards my kids’ school uses.)

There are also a ton of start-to-finish lessons, cool posters, brochures, and infographics that educators can use to really bring these lessons to life.

But before even teaching, there’s enough information here to ensure that any person who teaches the lessons are well-informed.

There’s even a contest for classroom teachers, and it’s super-duper easy to enter!

Encourage the teachers in your life to enter the contest simply by clicking here or on the image above.

What teacher do you know who wouldn’t do a jig of joy if he or she won a $500 gift card to Staples?!

• Classroom contest is open to United States residents who are currently employed full- or part-time as an educator by an accredited public or private K-12 school in the United States.

• Contest closes on June 30, 2017

• 4 randomly-drawn winners will each receive a $500 Staples gift card + a printed Cost of Smoking wall poster

Friends, it’s hard to imagine our kids feeling the effects of peer pressure, but it’s there, and we all know it.  And most likely at some point, all of our kids will be faced with peer pressure in some way, shape, or form.

Gulp.

So please, please take a minute to look at these resources, share this post with a teacher or administrator, or download some of the resources to use with the kids in your life.

And? Let me know what you think.

fyi: This post was written as part of sponsored partnership between We Are Teachers and Right Decisions, Right Now, but as always, my opinions are all my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator. 

also: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.