Tobacco Prevention and Control Program

Every year, we learn more about how devastating tobacco can be to the human body and how damaging secondhand smoke is to those around it.

• Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Smoking causes lung cancer and lung diseases including COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, and chronic airway obstruction.

Smoking also causes the following cancers:

• Bladder cancer
• Lung cancer
• Cancer of the pharynx (throat)
• Cancer of the cervix
• Cancer of the esophagus
• Cancer of the uterus
• Cancer of the mouth
• Stomach cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Cancer of the larynx (voice box)

Compared to non-smokers, smoking is estimated to increase the risk of:

• Coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
• Stroke by 2 to 4 times
• Dying from chronic obstructive lung disease by 12 to 13 times (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema)

Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and compounds with more than 100 of those found to be toxic. Non-smokers who breathe in SHS take in nicotine and these toxic chemicals. The more SHS smoke you are exposed to, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body.

Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 3,000 non-smoking Americans die of lung cancer. Secondhand smoke can also cause heart disease, breathing problems and worsen asthma and heart disease. In children, it can cause colds, coughs and ear infections. 

What if I Chew or Dip? 

Smokeless tobacco products, such as spitting tobacco, dip, chew, snuff and snus, are also harmful to your health and are not a safe alternative to smoking.

Smokeless tobacco users have:

• 80 percent higher risk of oral cancer
• 60 percent higher risk of pancreatic and esophageal cancer

Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 3,000 non-smoking Americans die of lung cancer. Secondhand smoke can also cause heart disease, breathing problems and worsen asthma and heart disease. In children, it can cause colds, coughs and ear infections.

Smokeless tobacco use can cause the following cancers:

• Cancer of the esophagus
• Cancer of the pharynx (throat)
• Cancer of the larynx (voice box)
• Stomach cancer Pancreatic cancer

Benefits of Quitting

• 20 minutes after you quit smoking your blood pressure decreases.
• 8 hours after you quit smoking your blood oxygen level returns to normal.
• 1 year after you quit smoking your risk of heart attack is cut in half.
• 3 months after you quit smoking, your lung function improves up to 30%.
• 15 years after you quit smoking, your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smokers.

Quitting is not just good for your health; it's also good for your wallet. The average pack-a-day smoker in Florida spends more than $2,000 a year on cigarettes. Imagine what you can do for yourself and your family once you stop smoking. To find out how much money you've spent on cigarettes and how much you can save over time if you quit smoking, click here Cost Calculator.

FREE Resources for Quitting 

The following are FREE resources to help tobacco users quit.

• Tobacco Free Florida campaign at tobaccofreeflorida.com
• Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669)
• Web Coach at www.quitnow.net/florida
• Florida AHEC Network's Quit Smoking Now Referral Line at 1-87-QuitNow 6 (1-877-848-6696)