As Mississippi students return to classrooms, health officials are reminding parents to have open conversations with their children about the dangers of tobacco use.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 90% of adults who smoke picked up the habit before turning 18. With youth spending more time around peers during the school year, they are more likely to try cigarettes and vaping if they see their classmates doing the same. Experts say parental involvement and participation in athletics can significantly reduce this risk.

Despite decades of warnings, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S. In Mississippi, about 5,400 adults die each year from smoking-related illnesses, while 192,000 children are exposed to sec

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