Tobacco Free Assembly
by Amanda Alford
March 04, 2010
Today Royal Valley High School hosted a speaker about tobacco use. His name was Gruen Von Behrens.
Jalen Chance stated, "I enjoyed watching him speak and tell his life story to us."
Gruen Von Behrens took his first dip of tobacco at the age of 13. He was diagnosed with oral cancer when he was 17. He is now 25 telling his story to everyone across the world. Gruen Von Behrens has lost half his neck muscles and lymph nodes, and half of his tongue after more than 30 surgeries due to tobacco use.
Six steps to stop messing with tobacco.
Step 1: Decide to quit.
Step 2: Set a quit date.
Step 3: Cut back on your spit tobacco use and change your routine.
Step 4: Build a support team--Let family and friends know that you're trying to quit.
Step 5: your quit day--Stay busy and active all day. Remember the urge to chew only lasts 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 6: Stay off spit tobacco- don't give up! Nicotine withdrawal symptoms decreases dramatically after the first two weeks.
Take it one day at a time. You may have to try two, three or even ten times, but keep trying.
Mercedes Hennis explained, "His story made me sad. I felt bad for him that at 17 he was diagnosed with cancer. I'm kind of scared because I know some people that smoke and chew and I don't want that to happen to them."
