Archive Index / Kick Butts Day Is Time To Kick The Habit (posted: 03/09/11)

Source: Volusia County Health Department
Contact: Stefany Strong, Public Information Officer
 

- Eighty eight tobacco related deaths in Florida daily -

DAYTONA BEACH - The Volusia County Health Department (VCHD) and Tobacco Free Florida are joining the fight against candy-flavored tobacco products as part of Kick Butts Day 2011, a national day of activism that empowers youth to speak up and take action against Big Tobacco.

In observance of Kick Butts Day on March 23, VCHD wants to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco, especially about candy-flavored tobacco products. Those products are as addictive and carry similar health risks as regular tobacco products.

“There are 88 tobacco related deaths in Florida each day,” said Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen, director of the Volusia County Health Department. “Parents need to be aware of how common the use of candy-flavored tobacco products is among young people, and should talk to their kids about the dangers of trying these products.”

According to Tobacco Free Florida, candy and fruit flavors mask the bad taste of tobacco, making it easier for kids to start using tobacco products. Once youngsters start using one tobacco product, they are more likely to experiment with others.

The 2010 Department of Health’s Florida Youth Tobacco Survey finds Volusia County students who reported using any form of tobacco in the past 30 days were all above the state average. Twelve percent of middle school students used tobacco compared to the state average of 9 percent, and 26 percent of high school students used tobacco compared to 22 percent statewide.

A poll conducted in March 2008 found that one in five youngsters between the ages of 12 and 17 years had seen candy-flavored tobacco products or ads, while only one in ten adults reported having seen them. Young people are much more likely to use flavored tobacco products than adults, and tobacco industry documents show that companies have designed flavored products with kids in mind.

In September 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned flavored cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. However, menthol cigarettes and candy-flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes are exempt.

Tobacco Free Florida offers a number of free resources to help smokeless tobacco users quit.

• Phone: Call the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a Quit Coach who will help assess the user’s addiction and create a personalized quit plan.

• Online: Enroll in online counseling with the Florida Quitline, where each user can create a personalized, web-based quit plan. Visit https://www.quitnow.net/florida to enroll.

• In-person: Visit the Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network’s website, http://ahectobacco.com, to locate a local AHEC and sign up for Quit Smoking Now group classes.

The Volusia County Health Department offers tobacco prevention brochures and literature at its clinic locations in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Deltona and DeLand.

ABOUT TOBACCO FREE FLORIDA

Tobacco Free Florida (TFF) is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. The program is managed by the Florida Department of Health, specifically the Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program. TFF’s mission is to combat the pervasive problem of tobacco use in the Sunshine State, where each year, more than 28,000 Floridians die from smoking and tobacco-related diseases cost the state an estimated $19.6 billion in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Since its inception in February 2008, TFF has reached millions of Floridians through advertising, grassroots initiatives, social media, and public relations efforts as a means of providing information and offer resources to help tobacco users quit. Smokers and smokeless tobacco users interested in quitting are encouraged to call the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a quit coach.

To learn about TFF and the state’s free quit smoking resources, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or Twitter at twitter.com/tobaccofreefla.