Today is the final day of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, making it the perfect time for parents to have the initial talk with their children about the dangers of drugs.

One of the most addictive drugs is nicotine, which can be found in all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

A study done by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that tobacco products, like cigarettes, often act as a gateway drug which can lead to illegal drug use in the future.

They are not only addictive, but are still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing 28,000-plus New Yorkers each year. With your help, less of this death toll can be from our region.

Even though New York state’s high school smoking rate is at an all-time low at 7.3 percent, many of the counties in the Southern Tier more than double this troubling statistic. Why? Because our kids are exposed to tobacco products and marketing in their communities and see this as a normal part of life.

Parents can protect their children from being harmed. Talking to your kids about the dangers of tobacco products will help them make the choice to be tobacco-free – for today and for life.

Parents can also encourage their kids to be advocates in tobacco-free programs like Reality Check in New York state. This youth-led group educates their communities about policies that protect youth from exposure to tobacco marketing and secondhand smoke.

For more information on how to help protect children from becoming new daily smokers, visit tobaccofreewny.com.

Jonathan Chaffee is assistant program coordinator of youth outreach at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.