Greeley's very own Megan Mueller of Northridge High School won first place and $5,000 in a statewide journalism contest about tobacco issues. Shown in the photo are Cassie Kauffman, Megan Mueller, and Jody Kugler of the Weld County Tobacco Program. Congratulations Megan!

Here is the winning article as seen in the Greeley Tribune:

http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20070129/EDUCATION/101290101

Even with temperatures plunging below zero, it's never too cold to go outside with some friends, have a few laughs and puff on a cigarette.

Rain, sleet, snow or sunshine, the members of Northridge High School's "smokers' corner" are out in the parking lot without fail. Although schools in Colorado are tobacco-free, high schools tend to have a gathering spot - often just beyond the campus boundary, as is the case at Northridge and other local high schools - where students go to pacify their addiction.

"It makes me sad to see them out there every day because they know as well as I know the dangers of smoking," said Northridge health teacher Mike Huston. "Many kids see smoking as something they will only do in high school."

The fact is many get hooked for life. More than 80 percent of all adult smokers first became regular smokers before the age of 18, and more than 90 percent did so before leaving their teens, according to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

Ruben Mercado, 17, knows from experience. After starting smoking in the sixth grade, he has tried countless times to quit. All of his attempts have been unsuccessful.

"I need something else to replace this habit. I need to get my health back," he said.

Contrary to popular belief, the students at smokers' corner generally don't think smoking makes you feel good about yourself.

"You cough and hack all the time, you smell bad, and you just know it's not good for you," Ruben said.

The dangers of smoking and their effects are taught to all Greeley-Evans School District 6 high school students in required health classes. But some aren't sure the classes are enough.

"Students take health for one semester of their freshmen year and that's it," Huston said. "When they start driving and get more freedom that is when they tend to pick up smoking. The best solution would be to spread out health classes, including tobacco education, throughout their whole high school career."

Krista Gardiner, 17, isn't sure this scenario would prevent students from picking up a cigarette or a can of chewing tobacco.

"There is absolutely nothing the school or my parents can do to get me to quit smoking," she said.

Still, Greeley-Evans School District 6 has lower teen smoking rates than the state average. A 2005 youth risk behavior survey of 1,554 students showed 12.3 percent were "current cigarette users" compared to 18.7 percent in the state.

One thing Huston says may be the biggest contributing factor to whether teens become smokers is the example set at home.

"Parents can be used as a deterrent from tobacco use or any other substance. Parents need to know what their kids are doing," he said. "We can scare them with the truth, but the information doesn't get through to all of them. They need guidance at home. All we can do as teachers and parents is to keep talking."

While some teens who become regular smokers quit before leaving high school, almost three out of every four regular teen smokers have tried to quit but failed, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Each year, statistics pile up about the hazards of smoking the difficulties of shedding the habit.

Meanwhile, the ash continues to fall to the sidewalk at smoker's corner.