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Teenagers
take a 'giant' stand against smoking
Twenty lucky
teenagers from all over Northern Ireland met the famous ice
hockey players, the Belfast Giants, today when they received
awards as part of the 'Up2You'
anti-smoking campaign organised by the Health Promotion Agency.
Thousands of
teenagers entered competitions featured in the teen style
magazine,
Up2You, which was designed specifically to highlight the dangers
of smoking to young people, especially those aged 12-14 years.
The magazine was distributed to all Year 9 and Year 10 pupils
in Northern Ireland and formed one element of the smoking
campaign.
Research from
the Agency shows that one in three Year 12 girls in Northern
Ireland are smoking every day which is double the number for
boys of the same age. Speaking during the presentations Dr
Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency,
said: "Smoking is still one of the most challenging issues
for public health today. The fact that one third of fifth
form girls are smoking on average six cigarettes a day is
alarming.
"We know
from research that the majority of young people become involved
with cigarettes in the first few years of secondary school.
Until this time they tend to view smoking in a negative way
but their view starts to change around twelve years of age
which is why the 'Up2You' campaign focused on this pivotal
age group."
The Giants supported
the campaign with a magazine feature promoting the anti-smoking
message to young people. Team player, Jason Wright, said:
"None of the Giants smoke because smoking kills. Ice hockey
players need tremendous lung capacity and smoking would seriously
hinder that. I would advise all young people not to smoke.
If people pressure you, they are the losers for not respecting
your decision. Remember, you are the winner if you decide
not to smoke - it's just a habit, nothing more."
The campaign
forms part of the ongoing work to support 'Smoking
kills', The Government's White Paper on Tobacco.
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