Students took the stand March 17, a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco.
by Amy Batista, Special Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — Students at Robbinsville High School were ready to kick “butts” by taking a stand against tobacco.
Students took the stand March 17, a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. The day is organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and sponsored by the United Health Foundation. The first Kick Butts Day was held in 1996, according its website.
”Our goal was to make students stop and think about smoking and its subsequent effects, whether it impacted them directly or their family and friends,” said Jennifer Allessio, tenth grade chemistry teacher and Students Against Drunk Driving adviser.
It was the second year that RHS students participated.
”Each year we try to add a new event so we can get our messages out into the school and our community,” Ms. Allessio said. “Previous events focused on alcohol and its related dangers, so last year we added Kick Butts Day to raise awareness about tobacco.”
The RHS SADD hosted the event and spent the day educating their peers about startling tobacco statistics through posters and videos projected during lunch periods.
”Additionally, a PSA was made featuring teachers revealing startling statistics about tobacco and smoking, as well as one teacher who shared how members of his family died due to smoking,” Ms. Allessio said.
The school’s SADD club is comprised of 10 members.
”I think it was effective to have teachers share personal stories so that it connected to our community,” said Krystina Layton, a SADD member.
”Usually you see kids on the phones still when they play videos at lunch but this time it grabbed everyone’s attention,” said Karina Vargas, another SADD member.
In New Jersey, about 76,000 high school students are reported to be smokers, a significant factor in the group’s desire to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking to the student body,” Ms. Allessio said.
”Many teens do not realize the consequences they likely will face later in life by smoking now,” she said.
After the video, many students questioned why anyone would continue with all the facts as it relates to health impacts of tobacco.
”After watching the videos, I don’t understand how people would still continue smoking not only for their own health but for others around them,” said tenth grader Michaela Petito. “I was surprised to learn about how many people die from secondhand smoke”
Ninth grader Mackenzie Kramer was impacted by the negative effects of smoking after seeing how a pregnant woman who smoked caused her baby to be born with health problems.
”It was sad to see how the negative effects of smoking can be passed down through generations,” said Mackenzie.
This year, marks the 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health, and a new Surgeon General’s report released in January found that smoking is even more hazardous than previously thought, according to a press release.
According to the release, the report noted key findings including the fact that smoking kills 480,000 people in the U.S. Each year and costs the nation at least $289 billion in health care bills and other economic losses. Without urgent action to reduce smoking, 5.6 million U.S. children alive today will die prematurely from smoking-caused disease, including 143,000 children in New Jersey alone.
Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $8.8 billion a year – one million dollars each hour – to market cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, according to the release, which accused the industry of marketing to children in particular.
Health advocates in New Jersey are urging state leaders to increase funding for tobacco prevention programs. New Jersey is the only state that currently spends zero state funds on these programs that protect kids and save lives, the release stated.
In New Jersey alone, tobacco use claims 10,100 lives and costs $4.1 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 16.1 percent of the state’s high school students smoke.
”We hope students learned how their health and the health of those around them can be negatively impacted by using tobacco products,” Ms. Allessio said. “Many teenagers only focus on the now and not on the long term consequences of their actions. Hopefully the videos provided them with a preview of what their futures would look like if they begin smoking or continue to smoke.”

