By Brandi Miller for the FCT

Fifth and sixth grades can be tough for students when it comes to peer pressure and bullying. The days of elementary school are almost over, and the desire to start high school and have lots of friends often leads students to make bad decisions.

In January, fifth and sixth grade students from Red Bay High School took part in an assembly to make students aware of the dangers of tobacco and hopefully prevent these students from ever beginning this deadly habit.

Mr. Lamont Dupree from the North Alabama Area Health Education Center spoke to the 5th and 6th grade students about the dangers of tobacco products such as cigarettes, spit/dip tobacco and e-cigarettes. Dupree engaged the students throughout the presentation by asking various ones to participate. One of the favorite presentations among the students was the healthy lung compared to the tobacco lung.

“This was the part of the program that I most enjoyed,” said tobacco grant coordinator Christopher Hargett, “because students were able to see firsthand how tobacco products can keep them from breathing and enjoying life.”

The 5th and 6th grade Junior SADD officers were recognized for all of their hard work in helping to make this presentation such a success. Junior SADD officers are Lawson Glover, Will West, Braden Holcombe, Gretchen Davis and Cassidy Aldridge. SADD president Antonio Patterson was also recognized for all of his hard work during the presentation.

When the presentation was completed, a quick survey of the students showed that the majority of the students walked away with a better understanding of the harmful effects tobacco products can have on their health.