Dr. Victor DeNoble was once a scientist for Phillip Morris.
But he was fired by the tobacco company and eventually testified
before Congress about the industry.
For the past two decades, he's educated kids about the dangers
of tobacco and drugs.
This week he was the star of a school assembly in
Carmichael.
DENOBLE: "I discovered that nicotine changes the way a rats brain works while I worked inside a tobacco company. And that's where my story begins, 32 years ago."
Kaiser Permanente sponsors DeNoble's educational trips to the
Sacramento region.
He says his science-based approach sticks with the kids.
That's why his talk shows human brains - and not just in
pictures.
DENOBLE: "This is that guy's brain..."
KIDS: "Oh my god!"
DENOBLE: "This is the front of your brain over here, the blue
stuff in the artery and veins, that's kind of cool. And that's the
back of your brain... I got him frozen too so you can take a look
at him."
KIDS: "Oh my god!"
School-based programs are one part of the multipronged
approach that the U.S. surgeon general says is effective in
preventing kids from smoking.
Federal health research says 9 out of ten smokers start before
they turn 18.
*Capital Public Radio gets financial support from Kaiser
Permanente.