Nebraska Students Honored in Anti-Smoking Contest

Nebraska students were asked to participate in creating posters in conjunction with an Alcoholism and Addictions education unit. The theme of the posters was, "If You Smoke, We All Smoke!" Nine students (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for each school-group) were honored in a small ceremony on Thursday, November 17 at the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addiction in Grand Island.

The first place submissions (one from elementary school, middle school, and high school) will be turned into billboards with the assistance of Lamar Advertising. The winners were selected out of 239 entries; more than entries submitted in the last two years combined.

Tim Zeleski, a former smoker and project coordinator for Tobacco Free Hall County, said the ceremony was held on Thursday to coincide with the Great American Smokeout.

Zeleski shared his own quitting experiences with The Grand Island Independent:

Zeleski started smoking in college. He continued to smoke for three and a half years before he woke up one morning in an uncontrollable smoking fit. Within three days, Zeleski had been admitted into the hospital with what he says is the closest he's been to experiencing a migraine headache.

While under medical care, a nurse believed he was continuing to smoke as employees had noted the smell of cigarettes on him. Zeleski said the smell was likely the excretion of nicotine and other toxins whenever he started sweating because of withdrawal. Zeleski went on further to state that he poisoned himself. Quitting cold-turkey provided an exceptionally bad physical reaction in his case.

Tim Zeleski noted that while working in law enforcement, he used to fight against illegal drugs. "As bad as illegal drugs are, he's had people tell him nicotine is the most addictive substance they've ever used." As reported by The Grand Island Independent.

Encouraging the youth of today to never begin smoking is vital for their future. Facing a nicotine addiction as an adult is a prison sentence to a product that slowly kills every cell in the body; often leading to very painful deaths. Quitting tobacco is the greatest step anyone can take to reduce the possibility of facing the same ultimate death sentence. Cigarettes are responsible for a large array of cancers and lung diseases that make the simplest life-function of breathing a constant struggle.

If you or someone you love wants to quit smoking, look at all of the options available and make a plan complete with a date to throw out every cigarette and never look back. You can do it and we will support you all the way.