The State Health Department conducted a study entitled, The Indian Youth Risk Behavior Study and found out that Indiana has a smoking rate of 23.5 percent which is beyond the national average of 19.5 percent. It also points that 10.7 percent of Indiana students had used smokeless tobacco in the 30 days previous to the study. It has become a rising dilemma for the state with its rising number of 7.3 percent in 2003.

In response to the growing problem of tobacco addiction, some students worldwide have solemnly taken part in promoting a tobacco-free society. Students of middle and high schools in Michigan City have joined the anti-tobacco campaign. The groups have been engaging in peer education activities under the Safe harbor Program.

The program is supervised and supported by the Indiana Tobacco Prevention Council with the recent participation of students in activities like; Kick Butts Day in March and World No Tobacco Day in May. “They have so much passion and initiative that they want to get the word out to their peers that smoking is bad for you,” said Sandy Gleim said, executive director of Healthy Communities of La Porte.

Other program launched is the “Quit Now Indiana” –a contest executed by Healthy Communities where people are urged to quit smoking by winning prizes. The group Voice will also take part by passing out fliers and let citizens sign an anti-tobacco petition. Higgen, the program coordinator said that it’s been a successful year for the program.

The programs have been found effective; an example is a graduate from Elston Middle School Michigan who convinced her mother to a quit a 12-year smoking habit. The main target of the campaign is to educate the youth and women about the marketing tactics of tobacco companies.