<b>By TIM THORNBERRY<br>
Kentucky Correspondent</b> </p><p>

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — In a state known for tobacco production, a youth group from Eastern Kentucky are working to inform their peers of the dangers of tobacco use.</p><p>
The second 4-H Helping Overcome Tobacco (HOT) in Kentucky Conference was held last month with young people from Johnson, Magoffin, Floyd, Martin and Pike counties attending in an effort to communicate an anti-tobacco message to their communities. The conference was at the Highlands Regional Medical Center.</p><p>
“They really feel the need to get out and be spokespeople to help prevent younger youth from starting tobacco use,” said Dianna Reed, Johnson County 4-H youth development agent. “Our focus is to give high school aged students the tools they need to spread the message to younger kids about the dangers of beginning tobacco usage. Kids listen to older kids, and our youth educators want to be positive role models to other youth in the tobacco usage prevention message.”</p><p>
Health Departments from the Big Sandy Area helped provide the program where teens learned the statistics for Kentucky Youth who smoke, what can be done to help prevent this and on how to talk to other teens about not smoking. They also learn how to write, act and produce public service announcements for radio and television along with producing poster ads as part of their campaign. </p><p>Representatives from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and local media outlets were on hand to help. The posters will be displayed in schools while the announcements will be played on local radio, television and in movie theatres.</p><p>
Kentucky ranks number one in the use of tobacco along with the number of lung cancer deaths. According to the American Lung Association, “lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S. In 1987, it surpassed breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. In 2002, Kentucky had the highest age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates in both males (133.8 per 10,000) and females (73.0 per 100,000).”</p><p>
Connie Meek, tobacco prevention and cessation specialist with the Johnson County Health Department said stopping the problem starts with those who have yet to begin tobacco use.</p><p>
“Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of illness in the United States,” said Meek. “The only way to stop the tobacco epidemic we’re having is for our youth not to start. That’s what we’re hoping to accomplish with the group of students we have here.”</p><p>
Meek also said that while given the state’s ranking, slow progress is being made, noting the cities of Paintsville and Pikeville having smoke free restaurants with the city of Prestonsburg just instituting a 100 percent tobacco free program in their schools.
“I guess it’s kind of like a small child, you have to walk before you can run,” she said.</p><p>
Those attending the conference had varying reasons why they participated. Nick Bingham, a Prestonsburg High School junior and treasurer of the Floyd County Teen Council was there to learn how to help a family member stop smoking.</p><p>
“I have an uncle that smokes. I came to this conference to learn some tactics to try to get him to quit,” said Bingham.</p><p>
Damen Hensley, a senior at Sheldon Clark High School and quarterback for football team said he doesn’t smoke because he doesn’t want to have a negative effect on younger kids who look up to him.</p><p>
“We’re giving it an effort, which is more than what has been done in the past,” he said. “We’re getting it started and getting people thinking about it, and that’s the number one step.”</p><p>
Heather Nelson, the Floyd County 4-H Agent said, “I believe this is an excellent way of getting the message to our young people about not using tobacco products. Young people will listen more to their peers than to adults.