Muskogee High School Students Launch CounterACT Tobacco Advocacy Campaign

During a recent city council meeting in Muskogee, Oklahoma, high school students presented a compelling initiative aimed at combating tobacco use among youth. Zaria Gordon and her peer Jason Craft from Muskogee High School detailed their involvement in the CounterACT Tobacco program, which seeks to empower young people to advocate for stricter tobacco regulations.

The students emphasized the alarming rise in vaping among teenagers, noting that while traditional cigarette use has declined, vaping rates have surged. According to their presentation, over 21% of Oklahoma high school students reported using vape products in 2021, with estimates at their school suggesting the figure could be as high as 50%. This trend raises significant public health concerns, as the accessibility of these products to minors remains a critical issue.

Gordon explained that the CounterACT Tobacco initiative is part of the Youth Action for Healthy Leadership (YAWS) program, funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Program (TSET). The campaign's primary goal is to advocate for comprehensive retail licensing for tobacco products, which would make it more difficult for minors to obtain them. Currently, Oklahoma lacks stringent regulations, allowing retailers to sell these products without a license, thereby increasing the risk of underage sales.

The students argued that implementing a licensing system would not only help regulate sales but also enable compliance checks to ensure retailers adhere to the law. They highlighted the need for local communities to have the authority to enact stricter regulations, countering state-level preemption that limits local governance on tobacco control.

The council's engagement with the students reflects a growing recognition of the importance of youth voices in public health discussions. As the meeting concluded, the council members expressed their support for the students' efforts, indicating a willingness to consider actions that could strengthen tobacco laws in the community.

This initiative underscores a broader movement towards addressing youth health issues and the need for effective policies to combat the rising tide of nicotine use among young people in Oklahoma. The council's next steps will likely involve further discussions on potential legislative actions to support the students' advocacy efforts.