World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day takes place on May 31, 2010. The World Health Organization (WHO) has selected "Gender and Tobacco with an Emphasis on Marketing to Women" as the theme for this year’s campaign.

World No Tobacco Day 2010 draws particular attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing towards women and girls. Not only are women smokers at increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease, but women smokers also experience unique risks related to menstrual and reproductive function. The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids provides insight into the tobacco companies’ marketing to women and girls. See Deadly in Pink Report.

Tobacco use is responsible worldwide for more than two million premature deaths annually. Jefferson County Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention Initiative works to address tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure through a variety of strategies, including supporting policies that help reduce use and exposure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every day in the United States, approximately 3,600 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years initiate cigarette smoking, and an estimated 1,100 young people become daily cigarette smokers.  In Jefferson County, best practice policy approaches to reduce youth tobacco use include comprehensive, strong smoke-free laws that include all indoor public places and some outdoor public places such as outdoor recreation areas, parks, playgrounds and customer seating areas. Policies which reduce youth access to tobacco products and the influence of tobacco marketing are another best practice strategy – both policy areas help to de-normalize tobacco use, shifting social norms toward tobacco-free living.  View specific Jefferson County Youth Tobacco Use Data 

If you live in Jefferson County and want to get involved in efforts to reduce youth tobacco use, consider participating on a coalition being developed to address this issue through policy and education and provide your input on a survey about youth tobacco use at ttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/yatobacco.  For information about the coalition and how to get involved, contact Donna  Viverette at 303-275-7555.

For youth and adults who are interested in quitting, the following resources are available free of charge:

• Youth: NOT on Tobacco (NOT) Program is a cessation and health promotion program for youth offered by the American Lung Association through school and community settings.  For information about where NOT programs are currently being offerered, contacted the TPI at (303) 275-7555;
• Adults: Free support for quiting tobacco is offered through the Colorado Quitline at 1-800-QUIT NOW; trained cessation specialists provide multiple phone coaching sessions for those ready to quit.
• Jefferson County Public Health offers a FREE “Getting Ready to Quit” class for people interested in preparing to stop smoking.  Participants are encouraged to call 303-275-7555 for class times and locations.

Additional information on World No Tobacco Day may be found on the World Health Organization Website: http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2010/announcement/en/index.html