February 25, 2008
Cancer Survivor to Warn Montana Youth
About Spit Tobacco
Students across Montana will hear a powerful message this week, when oral cancer survivor Gruen Von Behrens visits 14 Montana schools.
Von Behrens, 30, began using spit tobacco at age 13, and by the time he was 17 developed oral cancer. To save his life, Von Behrens, of Illinois, underwent 34 surgeries that resulted in the removal of his lower teeth and jawbone, loss of half his tongue and neck muscle, and having his face patched with skin and muscle from his leg.
According to Jason Swant, program manager for the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program, 12 percent of Montana men use spit tobacco, a rate that is twice the national average. “What is more alarming is that 22 percent of Montana senior high school boys are regular spit tobacco users,” Swant says, adding that those who use spit tobacco are 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer than those who do not.
Von Behrens has been telling his story for nine years to help educate youth nationwide about the real-life consequences of spit tobacco addiction. He is a member of the speakers’ bureau of the National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP).
“If I had known then what I know now, I never would have put a dip in my mouth,” says Von Behrens. “Spit tobacco seemed harmless, but it has ruined my life.”
Hosted by the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) of DPHHS and local tobacco use prevention programs, Von Behrens will bring his personal survival story to Montana students as part of MTUPP’s month-long focus on preventing and reducing spit tobacco addiction. “Spit tobacco is often falsely perceived as a safe alternative to smoking,” says Swant. “Gruen’s story powerfully demonstrates that spit tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking, but rather a dangerous and potentially lethal choice.”
Von Behrens program includes an hour-long presentation, including a question and answer period for the students. During his five-day tour in Montana, he will visit schools in Plentywood, Wolf Point, Malta, Havre, Shelby, Sunburst, Browning, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Whitefish, Darby, Corvallis, and Florence.
According to Heather Beck, MTUPP cessation specialist, free help is available for Montana spit tobacco users, nearly half of whom report they want to quit. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line, funded by the MTUPP, helps spit tobacco users quit with free telephone coaching and nicotine replacement therapy – gum, patch, or lozenges. Calls are toll-free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).
Von Behrens will visit schools at the following times and locations:
Monday, February 25, in Plentywood and Wolf Point schools- 9:30 a.m., Plentywood High School, 100 East Laurel
- 2 p.m., Wolf Point High School, 213 6th Avenue South
- 4 p.m., Wolf Point High School, health forum, 213 6th Avenue South
- 9:15 a.m., Malta High School, South 9th Street West
- 2:15 p.m., Havre Middle School, 1441 11th Street West
- 5:30 p.m., MSU-Northern ballroom, Cowan Drive
- 9:00 a.m., Shelby High School, 1001 Valley Street
- 10:30 a.m., Sunburst High School, 414 3rd Street South
- 2:00 p.m., Browning Middle School, 112 1st Avenue SW
Thursday, February 28, in Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish Schools
- 8:00 a.m., Kalispell Middle School, 205 Northwest Lane
- 10:15 a.m., Columbia Falls High School, 610 13th Street West
- 1:00 p.m., Whitefish Middle School, 600 East 2nd Street
- 9:00 a.m., Darby High School, 209 School Drive
- 10:45 a.m., Corvallis High School, 1045 Main
- 2:00 p.m., Florence High School, 5602 Old Highway 93
For more information call Swant at 406-465-6671.
Page last updated: 02/25/2008
