Video - Tony Gwynn and the Dangers of Tobacco

The lead story on this morning's episode of ESPN's Outside the Lines was about Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn's struggle with addiction to chewing tobacco. Even after two tumors were removed from his mouth Gwynn continued to use chewing tobacco. Last year he was diagnosed with cancer caused by the use of chewing tobacco. Gwynn is now cancer free and tobacco free but, as you can see in the seven minute video below, only after being "scared straight."

Applications for Education

I don't know what the statistics are regarding "scared straight" stories as deterrents to tobacco use. But as high school baseball seasons are getting started all across the US right now, it might be good to show this video to teams before they take the field this season.