Mississippi high school student Michael Henderson appreciates the fact that he can go to school and not feel the pressure from his classmates to use tobacco products.

“I’m am 100 percent behind the ‘no tobacco products on school campuses’ rule because there is a less chance of peer pressure,” Henderson said. “School is about learning, and students shouldn’t have to worry about being pressured to try tobacco products while they are at school.”

It’s been 10 years since legislation when into effect in Mississippi prohibiting students from possessing any type of tobacco products and adults from using tobacco products on educational property.

“Three thousand and seven hundred Mississippi kids currently under the age of 18 will die prematurely from smoking,” said Roy Hart, director of the Office of Tobacco Control at the Mississippi State Department of Health. “This policy is one way we can help protect kids from experiencing pressure to begin using tobacco products.”

This legislation has been a great thing for Mississippi students because not only does it alleviate some of the peer pressure they experience from their classmates to try tobacco products, it also limits some of their exposure to secondhand smoke.

Each year in Mississippi, smoking accounts for an estimated 5,250 premature deaths, including 550 deaths among nonsmokers as a result secondhand smoke.

Henderson hopes to eventually see a policy in place that would protect all Mississippians from exposure to secondhand smoke.

“If you are out somewhere and people around you are smoking, it can cause harm to you,” he said.

“I think everyone should be able to go to public places and be protected from secondhand smoke.”

For more information on the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke, contact the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Adams, Franklin and Jefferson counties at 601-818-7784 or visit www.tobaccofreems.org.

Paige Dickey is the director of the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Adams, Franklin and Jefferson counties.