Alaska Tobacco Control Alliance

At last year’s AK TAI Summit, teens from the Kenai Peninsula, as well as from around the state, identified a need that they wanted their school districts to address. Specifically, that students caught using tobacco products should be provided an educational unit that would enlighten them to the dangers of tobacco use and move them toward a desire to quit using tobacco rather than just suspending them from school. In pursuit of this goal, students met with Kenai Peninsula School District administration to gain their support. Doris Cannon was at that meeting and identified with the concerns that Kayla Shultz presented on behalf of the Ak TAI teens. Through Ms. Cannon’s efforts, the process began to provide training which gives schools the ability to implement a program that can be utilized as an alternative to out of school suspension for tobacco use! Thank you Ms. Cannon!