The list of illnesses caused by tobacco use is long and contains many of the most common causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, lung disease, many forms of cancer, and vascular diseases.
Cigarette use alone, results in an estimated 430,000 deaths each year in the U.S., including 28,600 deaths in Florida. Secondhand smoke causes 50,000 deaths each year among adult non-smokers in the United States with 2,520 of those deaths among Floridians.
DOH-Sarasota’s Tobacco Prevention Program works to prevent initiation of tobacco use among youth and young adults, reduce secondhand smoke exposure, and promote cessation resources.Learn more about the Tobacco Prevention Program.
The “Quit Your Way” program provides users interested in quitting access to free tools, including:
- 2-Week Starter Kit of nicotine replacement patches
- Text2Quit
- Email Tips
- Quit Guide
They can choose as many as they need or use them in addition to Tobacco Free Florida’s Phone, Group and Web Quit services.For more information about Quit Your Way, please visit Tobacco Free Florida Quit Your Way.
The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) provides free tobacco cessation services in your area. For more information and a calendar of classes, visit the Tobacco Free Florida AHEC Cessation Program.
The Tobacco Prevention Program supports the following initiatives:
- Point of Sale
Tobacco prevention at the “Point of Sale” refers to tobacco product marketing and promotion in the retail environment – in convenience stores, gas stations and other retail outlets. - Smoke-Free Multiunit Housing
Educate and promote the benefits of implementing a Smoke-Free housing policy and bring awareness to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke to multiunit property owners, managers and residents. - Tobacco Free Public Places
Promote tobacco free shared spaces, like public parks and beaches and educate on the dangers of secondhand smoke. - Tobacco Free Partnership
The Tobacco Free Partnership is a community based group working to empower and mobilize communities to reduce tobacco related death and disease throughout Sarasota County. - Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT)
SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco free future. There are school-based and community-based SWAT groups throughout Sarasota County.
For more information on how to join a local SWAT club, call 941-861-2969.