Wagoner County Health Department
Tobacco Use Prevention
Tobacco's Toll on Wagoner County
- 18% of 6th graders reported having tried cigarettes
- By 10th grade, 51% of students reported having tried cigarettes
- 10% of 6th graders reported having tried smokeless tobacco
- By 12th grade, 31% of students reported having tried smokeless tobacco
- 26% of adults in Wagoner County smoke cigarettes (that's 16,400 of us)
The Wagoner County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition strongly believes in the goal of a significant reduction of tobacco use in Wagoner County, ultimately leading to its eradication of use. Educating our young people, who in turn may exert influence on our older population, will be a positive influence on developing healthier communities in Wagoner County.
Info to know . . .
Secondhand smoke poses risks to children.
- Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to tobacco smoke because their lungs and respiratory tracts are still growing. Children have a higher metabolism and can absorb higher amounts of smoke than adults.
- More than three times as many infants die from secondhand smoke-related Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as from child abuse or homicide.
- Research shows that tobacco smoke can trigger colds, asthma, bronchitis, allergies, pneumonia, and breathing problems.
- Exposure to tobacco smoke also raises a child's risk of ear infections, asthma, bronchitis, and tonsillitis which can often result in a need for medical procedures such as placement of tubes in the ears or removal of the tonsils.
Steps you can take to reduce secondhand smoke exposure risk to children.
- Stop smoking. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW for information and help.
- Ask people to smoke outside. Reduce your child's exposure to secondhand smoke by asking family members and visitors to smoke outside. It doesn't help to simply smoke in another room
- Make your vehicle smoke-free. Reduce your family's exposure to tobacco smoke by letting passengers know that you don't allow smoking in your vehicle.
- Hire a nonsmoking caregiver. If your babysitter or caregiver does smoke, ask him or her not to smoke around your child.
- Join non-smoking groups. Join community groups that support non-smoking environments for children, such as the Wagoner County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition.
The above info to know is courtesy of Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Cancer Center.
Want to help? Contact the Tobacco Use Prevention Coordinator at (918) 485-3022 to find out what you can do to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I get help to quit smoking?
A: Call 1-800-QUIT NOW. When you are ready, Oklahoma's Tobacco Helpline is here to help.
Interesting Facts
A: Call 1-800-QUIT NOW. When you are ready, Oklahoma's Tobacco Helpline is here to help.
Interesting Facts
Tobacco kills about 6,000 Oklahomans each year. It is our leading cause of preventable death, killing more Oklahomans than alcohol, auto accidents, AIDS, suicides, murders, and illegal drugs combined.
Tobacco use costs Oklahomans over $2 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity every year, for an average of about $600 per person.
Over 600,000 adult Oklahomans, about one in four, currently use some form of tobacco.
Over 78,000 Oklahoma children already use tobacco. Each day, the equivalent of another classroom of children gets hooked on tobacco.
Tobacco use costs Oklahomans over $2 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity every year, for an average of about $600 per person.
Over 600,000 adult Oklahomans, about one in four, currently use some form of tobacco.
Over 78,000 Oklahoma children already use tobacco. Each day, the equivalent of another classroom of children gets hooked on tobacco.
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