News and Events

Dixie SWAT Chapter Supports Not a Lab Rat Day!
October 4, 2025

On October 4, 2025, the Dixie County Middle/High School SWAT Club took part in Florida’s statewide “Not A Lab Rat” (NALR) initiative by creating a themed scarecrow display for the Cross City Town Hall. The SWAT youth chose to highlight how tobacco and nicotine products can trap young people in addiction. Their display featured a coffin labeled, “Tobacco users are just dying to quit,” underscoring the growing threats their generation faces—from e-cigarettes to emerging oral nicotine products such as Zyn, On!, and Velo.

The students also aimed to raise awareness about the serious risks nicotine poses to teens. Since the brain continues developing until age 25, youth are especially vulnerable to nicotine’s effects, including reduced impulse control, attention and cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and increased susceptibility to addiction to other drugs and tobacco products.

The Dixie County Middle/High School SWAT Club hopes the display encourages local youth to learn about these dangers and consider joining SWAT to help protect their peers from the tobacco industry’s evolving nicotine products.