St. Lucie County teen honored for taking on tobacco industry

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Nicolas Suarez’s inspiration to become an anti-tobacco activist started at home. His mother struggled with smoking and related health problems while he came of age. He joined Florida SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) to promote a tobacco-free lifestyle among his younger generation.

The most important person he inspired was his own mother, who quit after he joined, says the Florida Department of Health.

This year the St. Lucie County high school student was named the South Region Youth Advocate of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

“Nicolas is an outstanding leader in Florida’s SWAT movement, and he is very deserving of this national recognition for his dedication to youth tobacco prevention,” said Tobacco Free Florida Bureau Chief Kellie O’Dare. “His leadership is helping make the next generation tobacco free.”

The teen was honored in Washington D.C. at the 21st annual Youth Advocates of the Year Awards Gala on May 10th.

The award honors youths who promote amongst their generation the dangers of tobacco. FDOH says that includes promoting tobacco prevention legislation, exposing tobacco marketing to kids, and keeping their peers from using tobacco.

FDOH says the smoking rate for Florida high school students is at an all-time low in 2016 at 5.2 percent. That percentage was nearly double in 2010.