News and Events
Through With Chew: Gilchrist SWAT Inspires Students to Stay Tobacco-Free
February 23, 2025
This quarter, the Gilchrist SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) Club took an active role in raising awareness about the dangers of chewing tobacco through their involvement in Through With Chew Week at local schools. Through With Chew Week is an annual initiative that aims to educate students about the risks associated with smokeless tobacco, particularly chewing tobacco, and encourages them to make the pledge to stay tobacco-free.
Through With Chew Week has a long history, beginning in 1989 when it was created by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). The campaign was designed to raise awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco products, especially among young people. Since then, the campaign has grown into a nationwide effort, with schools, organizations, and communities coming together each year to focus on the risks of chewing tobacco and to encourage tobacco-free lifestyles. The mission of Through With Chew Week is clear: to educate youth about the dangers of oral nicotine products, discourage initiation of these products, and support those who want to quit. The campaign works to break the cycle of addiction before it starts, emphasizing that prevention is key in reducing tobacco-related diseases in future generations.
In Gilchrist County, a rural agricultural area where tobacco use has been deeply ingrained in local culture, the issue of chewing tobacco is particularly relevant. Many farmers, laborers, and workers in the community have historically used smokeless tobacco, making it a prevalent product in daily life. The practice of chewing tobacco often begins in youth, especially as young people are exposed to it through family members or peers working in agricultural settings. The SWAT Club's efforts during Through With Chew Week were essential in raising awareness among the youth and encouraging them to make healthier choices.
The Gilchrist SWAT Clubs held a pledge campaign during school lunches, where they asked students to commit to being “Through With Chew” and to promise never to use chewing tobacco in the future. At the tables set up in the school cafeterias, SWAT members shared important information about the health hazards associated with smokeless tobacco, especially the impact it has on oral health. Using eye-catching displays, they highlighted the consequences of chewing tobacco, such as severe tooth decay and gum disease. The visuals of decayed teeth and infected gums served as a stark reminder of the damage that can be caused by these products.
To make the campaign more engaging and to offer a healthier alternative to chewing tobacco, SWAT members handed out bubble gum to students who made the pledge. The idea behind this was to show that chewing gum could be a better way to address oral fixation if that was a reason some kids were considering using tobacco. Not only did the bubble gum act as a positive alternative, but it also helped students think about ways they could satisfy the urge to chew without turning to harmful nicotine products.
The Through With Chew Week campaign proved to be an important moment for Gilchrist County students. By pledging to stay tobacco-free, they took a stand against an addictive product that has long been ingrained in the local culture. Thanks to the hard work of the Gilchrist SWAT Clubs and their efforts to educate and engage students, more youth are now equipped with the knowledge to make healthier decisions and break free from the cycle of tobacco addiction.
Through community involvement and youth leadership, the battle against tobacco use in Gilchrist County continues to grow stronger. As more students take the pledge to be “Through With Chew,” the community moves closer to a tobacco-free future—one where young people can enjoy a healthier life free from the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco.
