The Tobacco Toll on Ohio Kids

 

This month, we are looking at the impact of tobacco.  Last week, we posted how tobacco use affects the body.  This week, we'll examine the impact on our kids.

The chart below was developed by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.  Most of us would be surprised to know 21% of high school students smoke, compared to the Ohio adult smoking rate of 25%.  It is clear we can change these numbers through not only through cessation, but also appropriate, best practice tobacco prevention - particularly efforts to prevent kids from starting.  While Ohio once had a nationally recognized tobacco prevention and cessation program, funding was lost for many years.  Although some funding was restored in the last budget, it is still not back to Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended levels. 

Ohio has the ability to make a difference.  Grassroots support of efforts to restoring funding can turn these numbers around.  If you haven't yet, please send a message to your legislators and urge their support!

 

The Toll of Tobacco in Ohio

High school students who smoke 21.1% (135,400)
Male high school students who use smokeless or spit tobacco 19.2% (females use much lower)
Kids (under 18) who become new daily smokers each year 15,000
Kids exposed to secondhand smoke at home 919,000
Packs of cigarettes bought or smoked by kids each year 34.1 million
Adults in Ohio who smoke* 25.1% (2,221,800)

*Due to changes in CDC's methodology, the 2011 adult smoking rate cannot be compared to adult smoking data from previous years.

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