Smoking Prevention Group Visits New River Gorge

By Matthew Hill, The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.

Jul. 24–A South Charleston-based group committed to combating underage smoking visited the New River Gorge this week. Participants spent Wednesday rappelling and rock-climbing in the natural wonder.

The stopover in Fayette County — which also includes hiking and a whitewater rafting trip — was part of a three-week tour of the Mountain State by the Institute for Courageous Destinies (ICD) that began July 6 in Kanawha State Forest, said ICD President Kevin Swann.

The gathering arrived at Songer Whitewater in Hico Sunday and will conclude this year’s circuit Saturday with an ice-cream social graduation ceremony at Coonskin Park near Charleston on Saturday.

As Swann explained it, the program is geared toward boys between the ages of 10 and 14. It intends to encourage young adolescents to abstain from smoking cigarettes or using other nicotine products.

ICD’s objectives are to increase self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as to improve healthy decision-making skills.

The group’s unique programming, said Swann, is centered around a structured, wilderness-based “inner-personal” experience that includes a wide variety of rigorous, innovative and exciting activities.

“Our primary aspiration is to break the cycle of generational nicotine addiction,” stated Swann, adding that West Virginia ranks fourth in the nation in cigarette smoking and first in use of chewing tobacco.

“Our data has proven that, by addressing the complex and various emotional needs of young adolescents, we can successfully delay the early onset of alcohol, tobacco or drugs (usage).”

By preventing such addictions, he noted, ICD’s methods can diminish “the burdens of intervention, rehabilitation, institutionalization, corrections, crime, lost wages, disrupted families, disease, mortality and suicide rates.”

ICD is a community-based, non-profit organization that set up shop in Kanawha County over seven years ago, said Swann.

For more information, call ICD at 304-766-8017 or visit the group’s Web site at www.courageousdestinies.org.

— E-mail: mhill@register-herald.com

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