Students in anti-smoking program
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Feb 23/01) - If we learn why we smoke, perhaps that would help us quit.
That is what Alfred Moses is hoping will happen to 11 Samuel Hearne students.
Moses is co-ordinator of the Kick the Nic program -- which the group is taking -- and community health representative for Inuvik Public Health.
"Right now we're just learning why we smoke, our habits," Moses said. "Most of the kids say they smoke as soon as they get to school because all their friends are outside having a smoke."
Moses said the students are recalling why and when they took up the habit, and that he's helping them identify situations where they're more liable to feel the need to smoke.
The students are also asked why they want to quit. Moses said several want to do so to become better at sports.
In the next few sessions -- the students have completed three out of 10 -- the group of nine boys and two girls will start taking steps to quit.
"We're planning for a day where all the people in the program are going to stay smoke free," Moses said.
The rest of the sessions will deal with support from other group members, as well as friends and family.
The course is still open to anyone up to 25-years-old (he received funding for up to 15 positions). Moses said he's received interest from Sir Alexander Mackenzie school, and plans to conduct a Kick the Nic program there as well.
