George Cruz, chairman of the CNMI Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, said besides the usual parade from American Memorial Park to the Carolinian Village on March 25, the elementary school students who will participate will also pick up cigarette butts around the island from March 1 to 20.
Students with the largest haul will be awarded prizes.
The event will also be highlighted by other competitions among participating schools.
Last year, hundreds of people participated in the event as the coalition pushed for a stricter anti- smoking law.
House Bill 16-47, prohibits smoking in public places like restaurants, is now in the Senate.
Cruz said when the bill was transmitted to the Senate, they worked closely with senators to include a smoking ban in cafes and bars.
This, he said, will protect not only the non-smoking customers but the employees as well.
Children who want to live a healthy life are also getting help from the Department of Public Safety’s Drug Abuse Assistance Education Program or DARE.
PO1 Isa Bokuku, who runs the program, said DARE encourages school children to tell their teachers or report to the authorities substance abuse they witness at home.
DARE, she said, aims to build trust between teachers and their students.
Aside from Cruz and Bokuku, the other people involved in Kick Butts Day are PO2 Nick Guerrero of the crime prevention program; Becky Covarubias, tobacco quit line coordinator; Polly Omechelang, the coalition secretary; Ed Camacho, tobacco program coordinator; and Ricky Itibus, tobacco health educator.
