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"This year, an estimated 74,140 Ohioans will be diagnosed with cancer, and 24,770 are expected to die from the devastating disease," American Cancer Society Government Relations Director Leo Almedia told Ohio lawmakers recently.
Such a figure is chilling enough, but according to a report by WHIO, the future is not exactly brighter.
"Ohio has one of the country's highest youth tobacco use rates, with 36.7% of high school students using tobacco products," an ACS Cancer Action Network spokesperson said. "If nothing is done to reduce smoking rates, 259,000 Ohio kids currently under 18 will ultimately die prematurely from smoking."
It seems unfathomable, with all the information available to them, that more than a third of Buckeye State high school students are using tobacco. Then again, we live in a world of curated, algorithm-generated social media feeds. Perhaps young people aren't receiving the information on tobacco that we think they are.
Lawmakers should give serious consideration to lobbyists' contention that another $20 million is necessary for tobacco control and prevention programs. This could help reduce cancer deaths in the state.
But state funding and school programs aren't enough. No, plenty of responsibility falls on adults to talk to the young people and set a good example.