GBHS basketball coach leads teen anti-smoking campaign
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Teen smoking statistics fail to dissipate despite Florida's strong smoke free air laws. The American Lung Association estimated that 15 percent of High School students in Florida smoke tobacco. Local educators and a modest number of Gulf Breeze High School (GBHS) students feel that statistic is too high.

"The tobacco industry thrives on promoting smoking to the younger generation," said David McGreal, Head Basketball coach at GBHS. McGreal also heads Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), a 25 member student volunteer group at the high school. That group has been combined with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

"Growing up, I saw a lot of my friends start smoking to fit in," McGreal said. "Now when I go back home, they're 32-yearold chain smokers. At 15 or 16 [years old] I didn't say anything to them. If I would have said something at 16, maybe my friend would be in better health."

Erika Martinez, a 16-year-old junior at GBHS, is Vice President of SWAT and believes students should be more concerned about the damage smoking could do to one's health. Martinez said she helped her mom quit the habit nearly four years ago.

"I know I won't do it," Martinez said. "I don't pay attention to what others think."

During a three-day event, anti-smoking proponent Patrick Reynolds spoke to over 10,000 high school students from Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. GBHS students did not participate due to scheduling difficulties but McGreal maintains that SWAT is dedicated to spreading the anti-smoking and anti-drugs message in the community. McGreal plans to take his students to Gulf Breeze Middle School during this school year.

"The kids are very receptive," McGreal said. "We're looking for leaders. They have to try to persuade their friends not to smoke. They need to take a stand."

In the American Lung Association's State of Tobacco Control report, the state of Florida received a "B" for its clean air laws and a "D" for its youth access to tobacco law. The association also reported that smoking costs the State of Florida $6.32 billion annually in healthcare expenditures.