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Tobacco Prevention

If you'RE READY to quit smoking/tobacco use, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW OR VISIT the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. 

Oklahoma acknowledges the traditional and sacred use of tobacco among American Indian/Native American people living in Oklahoma. Any mention, hereafter, to tobacco refers to the use of commercial tobacco unless otherwise stated.

Tobacco Products Including E-Cigarettes: Prevention & Cessation

Approximately 7,500 Oklahomans die each year from tobacco-related causes, with more than 700 caused by exposure to secondhand smoke alone. The Oklahoma State Department of Health's Chronic Disease and Prevention Services works to prevent tobacco initiation and reduce existing tobacco use through systems-level and social norm change. Tobacco control efforts in Oklahoma work in partnership among many organizations and agencies to ensure adherence to the best practice strategies that have been proven to work.

Tobacco use harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers in general. Secondhand smoke causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth. Tobacco related disparities also continue to impact the health of groups defined by race, ethnicity, educational level, and socioeconomic status and across Oklahoma.

Diseases Caused by Tobacco Use

  • Stroke
  • Osteoporosis
  • Mouth Cancer
  • Heart Disease
  • Throat Cancer
  • Lung Cancer
  • Emphysema
  • Pancreatic and Stomach Cancer
  • Kidney and Bladder Cancer

Diseases Caused by Secondhand Smoke Exposure

  • Ear Infection
  • Asthma Attacks
  • Pneumonia
  • Bronchitis

The 50th Anniversary Surgeon General’s report on the Health Consequences of Smoking recommends enhancing implementation of proven tobacco-control strategies, including:

  • Fully funding statewide tobacco control programs at CDC-recommended levels
  • Raising the average price of tobacco products
  • Extending comprehensive smokefree indoor protections (prohibit smoking in indoor worksites and public places to include restaurants and bars)
  • Mass media campaigns that shape social norms around preventing tobacco use initiation, encouraging cessation among current users, and encouraging support for smoke-free environments

Specific tobacco control efforts include:

  • Monitor clean indoor air regulations
  • Policy implementation to reduce secondhand smoke exposure 
  • Promote cessation services that are currently available to every Oklahoman through the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (okhelpline.com)
  • Support the Oklahoma State Department of Health MPOWER program
  • Support for local community partners working on tobacco control

For additional information on the Best Practices for Tobacco Control Programs, please visit: Smoking and Tobacco Use | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC

Tobacco Prevention Topics

Publications, reports, or articles put out by OSDH or our partners.

The Oklahoma State Tobacco Plan reflects the collaborative efforts undertaken to ensure all Oklahomans live in a tobacco-free state. This collaboration is done via the strategic alignment of efforts from the Oklahoma comprehensive tobacco control program, stakeholders such as public and private sector organizations, and community partners, which will lead to the implementation of evidence-based tobacco prevention, control, and cessation strategies. The end goal is to decrease the tobacco burden and disparities in Oklahoma, which will lead to a decrease in chronic disease morbidity and mortality and health care costs.

Key Data Collected

  • Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey (OYTS): A school-based tobacco survey administered to a random sample of 6th-12th graders statewide conducted every two years to assess tobacco use knowledge and attitudes among Oklahoma youth.
  • Oklahoma Adult Tobacco Survey (OATS): A telephone survey of a random sample of Oklahoma residents conducted periodically. OATS contains more detailed tobacco-related information than BRFSS regarding behaviors, attitudes, and opinions related to tobacco use.  
  • School Health Profiles: A self-administered questionnaire to a random sample of middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers conducted every two years. The survey assesses policies and practices related to different topics including tobacco use prevention.

Key Data Collected by Other Departments and Agencies

  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): A year-round random telephone survey of adults aged 18 and over in Oklahoma. Tobacco is one of the risk behaviors monitored by this survey.
  • Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS): a population-based survey of Oklahoma women who have recently had a live birth. It asks about the mother's smoking status.
  • The Oklahoma Toddler Survey (TOTS): a 2 year follow-up survey sent to women who participated in PRAMS to assess the health of their child. This survey includes an assessment of the child's exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Vital Statistics: Birth records provide information on mother's smoking status and low-birthweight births. Causes of death are obtained from death certificates.
  • Oklahoma Tax Commission: The Tax Commission provides us with data on tax per-capita sales of cigarettes and other tobacco products:
  • SYNAR: Synar is a federal program that was created to reduce tobacco access and availability to minors across the United States and its territories. Reporting is done annually. The goal of Synar is to reduce and maintain the number of successful illegal tobacco purchases by minors to less than 20% of attempted buys. 
  • YRBS: The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) is a set of surveys that track behaviors that can lead to poor health in students grades 9 through 12. The survey is conducted every two years and monitors behaviors that range from substance abuse (including tobacco) to physical activity.
  • Highlights of the Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey 2021-22
  • Beavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2021 Data Results
  • Youth Online: High School YRBS - Oklahoma 2021 Results | DASH | CDC

Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline

Target audience: Adults 18 years of age, and up.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline  (1-800-QUIT NOW) is a free service available 24/7. The Helpline provides free text and email support, phone and web coaching, and free nicotine replacement therapy for registered participants. Nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches, gum or lozenges) is only available for registered participants 18 and older, but free help is available for all Oklahomans.

My Life My Quit

Target audience: Teens 13 years old and older.

My Life My Quit is a free and confidential way to quit smoking or vaping. Users just text, click to chat or call their one-on-one quit coach to get guidance on coping with stress and cravings while building a personalized quit plan. The tips and non-judgmental support received is the reason why thousands of teens have joined. Text "Start My Quit" to 36072 or click to chat with a Coach.

Key Activities

  • Promote barrier-free comprehensive tobacco cessation insurance coverage.
  • Promote health systems interventions to include tobacco use screening and treatment into routine care.
  • Increase youth tobacco cessation.
  • Increase cost-sharing partnerships to increase quitline capacity and reach.
  • Expand and sustain efforts to promote the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.
  • Increase access and availability of culturally-specific cessation treatment for disparate populations.
  • Promote tobacco-free policies in all health and mental health care settings.
  • Support initiatives centered around clean indoor air.

Menthol

The majority (80%) of African American smokers choose cigarettes flavored with menthol, compared to a minority (30%) of Caucasian American smokers. Menthol tobacco products have been marketed to specific population groups via advertisements, sponsorships, pricing, lifestyle branding, and giveaways. These tobacco products have been heavily marketed to Black people resulting in lower successful cessation attempts. Menthol also increases youth initiation and nicotine dependence, making the product’s flavor more appealing and easier to smoke. Menthol leads to the continued use of tobacco products.

Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Community Development Services
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK  73102-6406

Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Community Development Services
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

Phone: (405) 426-8300
Fax: (405) 900-7610
Email: OSDH.TobaccoPrevention@health.ok.gov

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