In an effort to discourage adolescents from smoking, New York State Senator Michael Balboni is launching a campaign whereby students in grades 5-8 sign a pledge promising to avoid cigarettes and tobacco.

The packet containing information, including a letter to parents urging their children to sign a no-smoking pledge, a fact sheet outlining the dangers of smoking, the pledge form to be signed by the parent and child, and a return envelope, was sent to all of the school districts in the 7th Senate District. Additional packets will be available for students of schools interested in participating.

Those students of schools who do participate and who sign the pledge will receive an official New York State Senate certificate to display as a reminder of the commitment.

According to Balboni's Chief of Staff Jim Sherry, there is a need to protect children from the dangers of smoking and tobacco. Therefore, the "No Smoking Pledge for Kids" program was modeled after a program designed to discourage youths from drinking and driving.

"There was a pledge on the part of students to conform their conduct in a certain way and this is really kind of modeled after that," Sherry said. "Senator Charles Fuschillo (8th S.D.), who happens to be a longtime friend of Senator Balboni's found this particular program to be very successful in his district. Good ideas are important to be carried forward and so we're basically doing it in our district as well."

Sherry said the information was mailed to the school superintendents last week advising them the pledges and packets are available in the district office. Balboni's office just needs to know which schools will participate and how many packets to send out.

"I think it's a question of being vigilant and it's a question of never letting up," said Sherry of the ongoing battle against smoking. "Tobacco products are still available. They can still be obtained."

Sherry said people should be understanding of the health consequences involved in smoking and that there is momentum behind the concept of not smoking. It is not thought of as a cool thing anymore or the thing to do, he said. "Every effort that can be undertaken to do that is important."

According to the information sent in the packet, more than four million children ages 12-17 nationally are current smokers and each day, more than 3,000 children in the nation become regular smokers. The campaign is targeted at students in grades 5-8 because some studies show experimenting first begins at those ages, according to Sherry. "It's really to get people at a time in those formative years that have their opinions and thoughts formed in a healthy manner as opposed to something that is going to be harmful long term," he said.

Besides giving people an opportunity to live a healthier life, Sherry said money can be saved on a national and state level by people stopping smokers. "Smokers wind up costing all of us money. They wind up costing higher insurance premiums, higher Medicaid costs to treat people who have, if not smoking related illnesses, illnesses that are complicated by smoking. There is no question that is the single biggest thing that can be done to improve people's health¬stop smoking," he said. "The best thing you can is never start it."

Sherry said Balboni hopes all the schools will participate in the program. "The schools are the most logical and the most effective place to reach the greatest number of kids in the quickest time possible so that's obviously why we're reaching out to them."