Tobacco Use in High School Sports: A Growing Epidemic

Chewing Tobacco use has become a growing problem among High School athletes. More and more athletes have begun using products such as Skoal, Grizzly, and Red Man while participating in their respected sports. Most players feel that the use of these tobacco products has helped improve their concentration on the field when in actuality it may hinder their performance. The effects of the tobacco can slow down the heart rate and blood pressure of a player, ultimately making them dizzy and slowing down their reactions. Out of a total of 21 kids on my High School varsity baseball team, as many as 15 kids have used chewing tobacco during practices or games. That means that about 72% of my whole baseball team would use chewing tobacco at some point in a game or during practice. The use of Chewing tobacco is not solely done by baseball players, but by hockey players and football players also. Many athletes on my schools hockey team have admitted to slicing the skin in between their toes and sticking chewing tobacco there just so they can feel the "buzz" while they are on the ice. The use of chewing tobacco in High School Athletics needs to stop and soon.


Many organizations such as Tobacco Free Sports have begun to stop the usage of chewing tobacco in professional and scholastic sports. They have teamed up with celebrities such as Tony Hawk and Sammy Sosa to help put a stop to tobacco use in sports all together. Major League Baseball has banned the distribution of tobacco related products inside their clubhouses, and many High School athletic conferences have also banned tobacco related products to even appear on the field. Umpires have been instructed to throw any player out of the game who is seen using chewing tobacco, even on the bench.




Massachusetts High School Football Coach suspended 2 games for using chewing tobacco on the field

http://www.hrblunders.com/high-school-coach-suspended-for-chewing-tobacco/



YOUR BREATH STINKS WHEN YOU CHEW!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmeGz7VPkVk




For more information on Tobacco Free Sports please visit:
http://www.tobaccofreesports.ca/