Tobacco Prevention
- Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S.
- In Florida, 17.5% of the adult population (aged 18+ years)over 2,509,000 individualsare current cigarette smokers.
- Across all states, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults ranges from 9.3% to 26.5%. Florida ranks 18th among the states.
- Among youth aged 1217 years, 9.5% smoke in Florida. The range across all states is 6.5% to 15.9%. Florida ranks 13th among the states.
- Among adults aged 35+ years, over 28,600 died as a result of tobacco use per year, on average, during 20002004. This represents a smoking-attributable mortality rate of 258.8/100,000. Florida's smoking-attributable mortality rate ranks 20th among the states.
- Smoke-free home rules represent awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke. In Florida, as in the nation, an increasing number of families have such a rule. Currently, 84.0% of Florida homes have this rule. Florida ranks 6th among the states.
Sanford Location
400 W. Airport Blvd.
Sanford, FL 32773
Phone: 407.665.3184
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 8AM
to 5 PM
The Seminole County Health Department's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program offers a comprehensive program that is guided to address the following goals:
- Prevention of youth tobacco use initiation.
- Cessation support for youth and adults.
- Reduction in exposure to second-hand smoke.
The program includes objectives to establish and strengthen healthcare provider and community partnerships to provide resources and referrals to smokers who are ready to quit. Health education initiatives also include information about chronic diseases related to tobacco use, such as asthma, diabetes, and COPD.
CESSATION If you know someone who is ready to quit smoking, please refer them to our office at (407) 665-3184 for free assistance. Through an agreement with the Department of Health, we can refer current smokers to the Quit-For-Life hotline. The Quit-For-Life hotline (1-877-822-6669) is a free telephone-based cessation counseling service for those wanting to quit smoking. The Quit-For-Life line is currently offering nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum) to those who qualify. These services are also available to your staff and their families.
RESOURCES Please contact (407) 665-3184 for educational materials (brochures, posters, fax referrals and incentives) to distribute and display at your school or office. The Tobacco Prevention Office is available to provide an informational in-service for your staff. There is also an on-line tobacco education training available for professions requiring continuing education credits at no cost.
YOUTH PREVENTION To prevent young people from using tobacco, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) serves as an advocacy program to empower youth to stand up against the manipulative marketing tactics by the tobacco industry. SWAT advocates from local middle and high schools are available to host tobacco-prevention projects and presentations for your agency. SWAT advocates are charged to get the word out for a tobacco-free generation. The SWAT program is actively recruiting youth who will be attending a Seminole County middle or high school. www.gen-swat.com
LEADERSHIP The Tobacco-Free Partnership of Seminole County brings together community leaders, service and healthcare providers, and citizens to address county-wide tobacco prevention and control strategies for youth and adults. Please contact (407) 665-3184 for membership information and meeting schedule.