Students learn dangers of nicotine

KELLOGG — Students in the Silver Valley school districts were treated to a very informative guest speaker this week when Dr. Victor DeNoble came to the Kellogg Middle and High Schools and also Wallace Jr./Sr. High School to speak to them.

Dr. DeNoble is a recognized expert in the field of nicotine, including how it works, how it gets a person addicted, and the effects of that addiction on the human body.

DeNoble’s story is one of science, espionage, honesty and doing the right thing.

Following the receiving of his doctorate, DeNoble was hired by the tobacco industry giant Philip Morris, with the task of working in a secret lab to develop a cigarette that would eliminate or reduce cardiovascular disease in smokers.

While attempting this complex task, DeNoble learned the dangers and addictiveness of nicotine, as well as the effects it had on the human body, including the brain.

This was the big secret that the tobacco companies had been lying about for ages.

According to DeNoble’s research, it wasn’t taste that kept cigarette smokers coming back for more, it was the fact that they contained a highly addictive chemical.

Prior to this point, companies like Philip Morris had stated openly that cigarettes were not addictive.

They in fact knew, and wanted DeNoble to find something just as addictive, but that wouldn’t cause cardiovascular issues like heart disease.

When the company got word that DeNoble had figured out their secret and was actively investigating it in their own laboratory, Philip Morris fired DeNoble and seized almost all of his research.

Ten years later, DeNoble would be the first whistleblower against Big Tobacco after he was released from a secrecy agreement with Philip Morris, which allowed him to testify before the Federal Government that Philip Morris knew how addictive nicotine was despite saying their products were not addictive.

Talk about captivating.

The students were enthralled by this story, but the underlying positivity was that during the whole process, DeNoble made sure to sprinkle in relevant information, including the fact that the dangers of nicotine addiction still exist, even in the vaping and e-cig world.

Tina Brackebusch, a teacher at WHS, was impressed by Dr. DeNoble’s presentation for a lot of reasons.

“I was impressed with how our students were riveted with his presentation,” Brackebusch said. “The students absolutely enjoyed. Holding a large student body’s attention for 45 minutes is difficult and Dr. DeNoble did just that.”

It was a mix of knowledge and just enough quirkiness and sarcasm that really kept the student’s focus, which was important due to the message that Dr. DeNoble had for them.

“After the presentation, we had just a few minutes back in class and I asked my seniors what they thought of the presentation,” Brackebusch said. “I wanted to know it they thought it was persuasive and their answer was yes. They thought that it came across as more persuasive and informative than a parent or teacher telling them to not do something because it was bad. This presentation presented facts during the telling of an incredible story and let the students really decide for themselves.”

Kellogg High School Principal Curt Bayer thought the presentation was an important way to get those conversations started between students and their peers.

“I think students appreciated Dr. DeNoble’s approach, humor, storytelling and facts,” Bayer said. “I think his presentation connecting big business, government and science is a great start to classroom instruction in a wide range of content areas and address the topic as appropriate.”

Kellogg High School has been no stranger to the issue of nicotine consumption, including a rise in the use of e-cigs and vaping, but Bayer and his staff are going to stay the course and hopefully use information presentations like these to better dissuade students from experimenting with nicotine.

“In regards to nicotine issue at KHS, it is similar to last year,” Bayer said. “We continue to be vigilant and have our Student Resource Officer cite students when appropriate and needed, as well as having school discipline as needed. We try to stay as current and knowledgeable as we can with nicotine and other chemicals/substances that students have access to. KHS continues to pursue education for our staff and students to help our students make healthy choices.”

Dr. Victor DeNoble’s story was chronicled in the 2011 documentary “Addiction Incorporated,” which is available to watch on Amazon Prime.