News and Events

Dixie County High School SWAT Club Celebrates Black History Month by Focusing on Menthol Cigarettes
February 24, 2024

The Dixie County High School SWAT Club held a Menthol Tobacco subcommittee meeting where the Tobacco Free Florida Provider and eight DCHS SWAT officers met to plan the "Cross City on the Move, Making Things Happen" annual Black History Celebration.  The subcommittee members shared what menthol facts would resonate with the attendees, such as 85% of the black population who smoke use menthol. The subcommittee planned to share that menthol does not mean less harmful and menthol makes it easier to start smoking and more difficult to quit. 

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, four DCHS SWAT Members and two Tobacco Free Partnership members and the Tobacco Free Florida Provider, participated in the Black History Celebration at Johnnie Greene Park in Cross City, Fl. 

The partnership members and the SWAT youth set up an information booth so that they could promote the need for eliminating menthol tobacco, they provided correct information about the possible CDC Ruling preventing the manufacturing, distributing and selling of menthol tobacco and how the ruling will not criminalize possessing them. Jalen Teague and Sheida Momperasse, SWAT officers, were given the opportunity to read Black History Trivia over the intercom and read many menthol facts to the attendees. They shared that most kids who start smoking try menthol first.  The SWAT members assisted in the many games that gave them an opportunity to recruit future SWAT members. This event was very well attended and the community shared that they did not know that according to the CDC “The tobacco industry aggressively targets its marketing to certain populations, including young people, women, racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly Black people.”

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References:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Menthol Smoking and Related Health Disparities. (2023, November 2). Retrieved March 1, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/menthol/related-health-disparities.html