[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Pages 31068-31069]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



          FLORIDA'S ANTI-TOBACCO YOUTH MOVEMENT: THE SWAT TEAM

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I have been to the floor many times in the 
past to speak about the expense smoking has cost this great country--
both in terms of dollars that the federal and state governments have 
paid for the care of those afflicted with tobacco-related illnesses and 
in terms of lives lost from this dreadful addiction.
  I have supported state and federal efforts to recoup a portion of 
these lost dollars from the tobacco industry, as well as their efforts 
to begin education campaigns that would teach all Americans about 
tobacco's harmful effects.
  And, most importantly, I have worked with my colleagues to ensure 
that tobacco companies are no longer targeting our youth.
  Tobacco companies must stop marketing their wares to our most 
vulnerable population, be it through magazine ads that depict smoking 
as the ``cool'' thing to do or through the strategic placement of 
billboard advertisements near their schools and play areas.
  Mr. President, I am here today to let this distinguished body know 
that in Florida our message is being heard.
  Florida's children are learning about the health hazards that tobacco 
poses, and they are deciding not to smoke.
  This great news is due, in large part, to the successes of our 
innovative anti-tobacco pilot program--the ``Truth'' campaign.
  Funded with the monies awarded in Florida's 1997 tobacco settlement, 
the ``Truth'' campaign has a very simple mission--to counter the 
misinformation that our youth hear about smoking.
  Funded with the monies awarded in Florida's 1997 tobacco settlement, 
the ``Truth'' campaign has a very simple mission--to counter the 
misinformation that our youth hear about smoking.
  Much of this truth-telling is done by students working in what are 
known as SWAT teams.
  The Students Working Against Tobacco concept was created in February 
1998.
  Today, SWAT teams are operating in all 67 counties of Florida, with 
more than 10,000 members throughout the state.
  With a goal of reducing teen smoking through youth empowerment, the 
SWAT teams have formed partnerships with their communities and 
developed both marketing and education campaigns to impart the truth 
about tobacco.
  Although SWAT teams have been operational for less than two years, 
they are already making progress in the war against tobacco.
  Statewide studies are showing that over 95 percent of Florida's youth 
recognize the ``Truth'' Campaign and know its message to be anti-
tobacco.
  Additonally, surveys are showing that teenage smoking has decreased 
since SWAT's 1998 inception.
  Tobacco use among high school students has dropped by 8.5 percent, 
and

[[Page 31069]]

middle schools have seen a dramatic 21 percent decline in student 
tobacco use.
  This reduction is particularly significant when compared to national 
statistics showing that states without an anti-tobacco campaign have 
seen an approximately eleven percent rise in tobacco use.
  Florida's success may be due to SWAT's willingness to employ both 
education and mass media as means of spreading their message.
  Ads that are designed by students are played on local television 
stations, informing teens of the perils of tobacco use.
  Similarly, billboards that the SWAT teams have designed are displayed 
within the communities.
  These are complemented by an education component that is adaptable 
for all school grades.
  Health classes provide an opportunity to discuss the impact smoking 
has upon the body, from halitosis to lung cancer.
  In reading classes, young children learn to read using books that are 
about how to stay healthy and smoke-free.
  Science courses have moved the anti-tobacco campaign into the 
technology age, employing CD-Rom programs such as ``Science, Tobacco 
and You,'' an innovative computer program that demonstrates tobacco's 
effects on the body--from first puff to final drag.
  Students scan their photo into the computer, becoming a virtual 
reality smoker.
  As the program progresses, students watch their teeth, skin, bones 
and lungs begin to deteriorate.
  Currently, SWAT teams are strengthening their community outreach and 
grassroots work.
  In their current effort, students are working to get tobacco ads 
removed from magazines that have either one million youth readers or 
over ten percent of total readership under age 18.
  They are collecting these ads and returning them in bulk to the 
tobacco companies, with a cover letter stating that Big Tobacco needs 
to strengthen their commitment to reducing teen smoking.
  SWAT teams have offered to meet with industry representatives to 
share ideas about how this mutual goal might be met.
  Once again, the SWAT program has achieved success.
  At their next board meeting, they will be joined by representatives 
from Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company to discuss how to better target 
tobacco ad campaigns to adults, not youth.
  Mr. President, I am very proud of these young people.
  I am here today to commend them publicly, and to share their 
accomplishments with all of you because they are truly making a 
difference in the battle against teenage smoking.
  Florida has encouraged its youth to creatively combat one of the 
foremost problems facing today's teenagers, entrusting them with the 
tools and means to successfully meet their goals.
  As other areas work towards the development of a youth-based anti-
tobacco initiative, SWAT will be the model upon which their programs 
will be based.
  To the over 10,000 members of SWAT, thank you for your efforts to 
educate Floridians about the dangers of tobacco.

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