Statewide efforts raise awareness and fight against tobacco’s deadly impact
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27, 2024) — Take Down Tobacco Day, a national day of action and empowerment against the tobacco industry, is Monday, April 1. Tobacco Stops With Me (TSWM), a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), encourages Oklahomans to stand against the tobacco industry and the harmful impact of their addictive products.
This year, high school students throughout Oklahoma are pledging to work against tobacco through Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) groups in their schools. YAHL is a youth-led program of the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative that organizes events and gathers advocacy against the tobacco industry.
In addition to students, many parents, teachers and health professionals across Oklahoma are actively promoting tobacco-free areas and raising awareness of the impacts and predatory marketing tactics by the tobacco industry. Through events, social media advocacy and information sharing, the dangers of tobacco are brought to light during Take Down Tobacco Day.
“Across the state, Oklahomans are using their voice to speak out against the tobacco industry,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “Take Down Tobacco Day is an opportunity for communities to come together with one voice and demand a healthier tomorrow for future generations.”
The event, originally known as Kick Butts Day, celebrates its 28th anniversary this year. In 2019, it rebranded to Take Down Tobacco Day — a reflection of both the progress made in reducing youth tobacco use and the need to remain vigilant in curbing Big Tobacco’s efforts to market to youth, addict youth and make them customers for life.
Today, the high school smoking rate in Oklahoma is more than double the national average, and tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Oklahoma, resulting in 7,500 lives lost each year. For more information about tobacco products, e-cigarettes and ways to take a stance against Big Tobacco, visit StopsWithMe.com. Oklahoma teens struggling with tobacco use can connect to free quit services through My Life, My Quit™️ at MyLifeMyQuit.com or by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072.
Oklahoma adults thinking about quitting tobacco can sign up for free services from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline by visiting OKhelpline.com, calling 1-800-QUIT NOW or texting READY to 34191.
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Tobacco Stops With Me is a statewide campaign, funded through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Trust, that provides an efficient, emotional and highly recognizable tobacco-free message for Oklahomans to rally around. By educating the public about the negative effects and impact of tobacco, the goal of Tobacco Stops With Me is to prevent and reduce tobacco use, improving the health and quality of life for all Oklahomans. Tobacco Stops With Me aims to inspire individuals to make positive changes—not only for their own health, but for the health of the entire state as well. Free resources and more information at StopsWithMe.com.
My Life, My Quit™️ is a free program to help Oklahoma teens, ages 13-17, quit tobacco and e-cigarettes. By offering free live texting, web chat and phone calls, My Life, My Quit™️ supports teens through the steps of quitting tobacco. Funded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, these free services for Oklahoma teens can be found at MyLifeMyQuit.com or by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072.
The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative empowers Oklahoma youth to improve health outcomes for themselves and future generations. The initiative includes statewide public health education messaging, a youth-led advocacy program and character-building to reduce tobacco use and obesity. The initiative also gives parents resources to support their children in maintaining or developing healthy habits for a lifetime. Visit TSETHealthyYouth.com to learn more.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.
TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health