Quitting

If you are a teen, young adult, older adult or a senior and have been thinking about quitting, there are free resources (see The Quitline, Fax to Quit and Quit Smoking Now) available to help you be successful.

 

Did You Know?

That if you smoke cigarettes, cigars or a pipe, or use dip, snus or some other type of smokeless tobacco product, it is not your fault that the chemical nicotine, that is used in all of these products, causes people to become addicted.

That most people begin smoking when they are teenagers and are influenced by:

  • peer pressure.
  • advertising images.
  • thinking smoking will help them look cool.
  • thinking they will loose weight.
  • thinking they will be considered more independent.
  • wanting to rebel.
  • watching family members smoke.
  • clever marketing strategies.
  • free samples and promotional incentives.

That 132, 600 or 14.3% of Florida’s high school students smoke. (per CDC)

That 2, 506, 700 or 17.5% of Florida’s adults smoke. (per CDC)

That crawling infants can be exposed to the toxic residues left behind on carpets, hair and clothing and may be ingesting it through hand-to mouth touching (third hand smoke)

That your furry pets might be ingesting particles of tobacco ashes when they groom themselves.

That your dog is at risk of developing lung cancer and your cat is at risk of developing lymphoma cancer due to being exposed to tobacco smoke.

That certain cultural groups, that is, the Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans and low income families, were specifically targeted through clever marketing strategies and promotional incentives to influence their introduction to and continued usage of tobacco products. Many seniors from these cultural groups suffer from chronic illnesses due to their many years of smoking.

That smoking cigarettes will make your breath smell unpleasant, will turn your teeth yellow, might cause you to develop premature wrinkles and will make your clothes and hair smell unpleasant, causing you to leave a trail of odor that follows you.

 

Did You Know?

That everyday in Florida, about 88 people die from tobacco-related illnesses.                               

                    88
  • Tobacco/smoking illnesses/cancer 435,000.                                                               
  • Alcohol 105,000.
  • Secondhand Smoke 50,000.                                                              
  • Car Accidents 49,000.
  • Suicides 32,000.
  • Homicide 17,000.
  • Illegal Drugs 17,000.
  • HIV/AIDS 13,000.

That lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women.

That other cancers and illnesses that are impacted by tobacco use include:

  • Bladder, Kidney, Pancreatic and Mouth Cancer.
  • High Blood Pressure.
  • Heart Disease/Attack.
  • Strokes.
  • Diabetes.
  • Infertility in Males and Females.
  • Emphysema.
  • Chronic Bronchitis.
  • Asthma and many other illnesses.

That careless smoking is a leading cause of fire deaths in the U.S.