Students Working Against Tobacco (S.W.A.T.)
Students Working Against Tobacco or SWAT is the name of youth clubs in Broward’s middle and high schools to address the alleged manipulation and targeting of youth by tobacco companies. SWAT also provides school-based tobacco prevention information and awareness campaigns.
The state of Florida was the first state to settle its lawsuit with “Big Tobacco” in 1997. The now late Gov. Lawton Chiles vowed that the money won in the suits would go to fund a state program to prevent youth smoking. This program developed into SWAT, Students Working Against Tobacco, in Florida schools.
SWAT is a means by which the young people of Broward County may develop a coordinated, unified assault
against the manipulation of Big Tobacco. SWAT will also provide young people with the chance to be advocates and to get involved within their state, regions and communities. SWAT will allow youth to gain “real-life” experience through planning, executing, and evaluating tobacco prevention activities. SWAT will also attempt to provide meaningful workshops and training sessions that will allow youth to be more effective in any endeavor that they choose to undertake.
SWAT clubs in Broward Schools are coordinated with the assistance of the Broward County Health Department and the Office of Prevention Programs. The following are some of the SWAT advisers and the Broward schools that have clubs:
- Davette Wright-Arthur Ashe MS
- Yvonne Bentley-Crystal Lake MS
- Kim Young- Rickards MS
- Arnold Israel-Seminole MS
- Julie Sikorski-Tequesta Trace MS
- Allison Waxman-Cypress Bay HS
- James Yach-Fort Lauderdale HS
- Deb Clark-Hollywood Hills HS
- Teresa Young-Plantation HS
- Taunya Dix-Pompano Beach HS
- Rachelle Louidor-West Broward HS
- Lakeya Avant - Glades Middle
- Arnetta Davis -Lauderhill Middle