Event coordinator George Cruz said the cigarette butts were collected by students from four public schools within a span of seven days in different areas on Saipan, including Kagman.
Kagman High School and Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School collected 8.8 lbs.; Garapan Elementary School, 5.8 lbs; and Oleai Elementary School, 4 lbs.
Cruz said the numbers of participants during Wednesday’s event reached more than 700 students and included parents and community members.
The figure was almost double compared to last year’s Kick Butts Day.
Hopwood Junior High School principal Katrina Masga said the annual anti-smoking campaign aims to educate students about the harm caused by cigarettes, and betelnut chewing.
She said school administrators have also been receiving reports about students smoking marijuana.
Kick Butts Day, she added, is a good program that will help raise the community’s awareness about the ill effects of smoking and tobacco use.
“Our school is 100 percent supportive of the program,” she said.
Based on government date, 63 percent of high school students use some form of tobacco while 39 percent smoke.
Data also showed that 39.4 percent of junior high schools use some form of tobacco products while 17 percent smoke.
Cruz said the Kick Butts program allows the youth to stand out, speak out and seize control against tobacco with fun, educational activities and events.
“People are more aware now about the ill-effects of smoking cigarettes and there’s a significant reduction in the number of smokers among the youth,” he said.
The event’s exhibitors included the Ayuda Network, the Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition, NMC-CREES, the Commonwealth Cancer Association, the Division of Youth Services, the Diabetes Prevention Control Program, the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, the Community Guidance Center, the Family Violence Task Force, Marianas Health Services, and the Breast and Cervical Screening Program.
Kick Butts Day culminated with dance presentations by the participating schools at the activity center of the Carolinian Affairs Office after a parade from American Memorial Park.
