H O U S E     R E S O L U T I ON

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE RHODE ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE INFORM STUDENT ATHLETES OF THE DANGER OF CHEWING TOBACCO

Introduced By: Representatives Russo, Henseler, Cambio, Lewiss and Voccola

Date Introduced : February 9, 1999

WHEREAS, Chewing, dipping or smoking tobacco is harmful to the body. All forms of tobacco use cause damage. One of the effects of chewing and dipping is called leukoplakia which causes white leathery patches inside the mouth. Sometimes these patches turn into cancer and often prove fatal; and

WHEREAS, Chewing or dipping can cause teeth to wear down or decay. It can also make the gums recede or move back. This leaves teeth exposed to more decay and means more trips to the dentist. The tobacco chewer or dipper will lose much of his{ADD/herADD} sense of taste. He{ADD/sheADD} has trouble tasting foods that are bitter, sweet or salty; and

WHEREAS, Nicotine is found in all forms of tobacco. Nicotine causes the user to feel good for a very short time. When the nicotine wears off, the chewer or dipper feels let down. Once the nicotine user is addicted, he{ADD/sheADD} must have more tobacco every 20 to 30 minutes to maintain a normal feeling. At this point, he{ADD/sheADD} is addicted to the nicotine. Nicotine also causes the blood vessels to get smaller. The heart begins to pump harder and faster to get the blood through the narrow vessels; and

WHEREAS, Any form of tobacco, whether it is chewed or smoked, is both harmful and addictive. To stay healthy, stay away from any form of tobacco; and

WHEREAS, Millions of people in this country have stopped smoking. People who want to quit can. The best way to stop is cold turkey; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Interscholastic League through each {DELcity and town'sDEL} athletic director{DELsDEL} to inform the student athletes at the beginning of each season to the dangers of chewing tobacco; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Richard Lynch, Director of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.