Why We Should Be Tobacco-Free

posted by Stacie on November 1, 2014 // 1 Comment »

Did you know that tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States? Tobacco use takes an enormous toll in lives, health and medical costs. The vast majority of smokers start as kids.

My father started smoking when he was a kid. Growing up he smoked in the house and I frequently had bronchitis. At least once or twice a year I would get it. Then I moved out and never got it again. This was a tough realization because I was not a smoker but I was directly affected by smoke and it impacted my health for year.

My husband had a hard road to quitting smoking. He smoked for about 15 years and once we had kids, he really wanted to stop and he tried many times. He also failed many times and since we made the decision that we would not raise our kids around tobacco smoke, he didn't give up and has been smoke free for almost four years. We didn't want smoke to affect our children like it affected me and now it won't.

We have partnered with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids because we believe in their message and want to lend our voice in an effort to spread the word about tobacco free retailers. These retailers include CVS, Target, Trader Joes and Whole Foods with more joining the list. Retailers can help foster a tobacco-free generation by choosing not to sell tobacco products.

10 REASONS TO BE TOBACCO-FREE

1. Tobacco use kills 480,000 Americans every year – more than 1,300 people every day.

2. Tobacco use costs our country at least $289 billion a year in health care bills and lost productivity.

3. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined.

4. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the human body and causes about one-third of all deaths from cancer and heart disease, as well as 80 percent of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as emphysema.

5. 90 percent of adult smokers began at or before age 18

6. 5.6 million children alive today will die prematurely from smoking unless current trends are
reversed.

7. Every day, more than 2,800 U.S. kids try their first cigarette – that’s more than one million kids who take their first puff each year.

8. An estimated 375,000 retail stores sell tobacco products in the U.S. The widespread availability of tobacco products sends a terrible message to kids that tobacco use is normal,acceptable and appealing.

9. Tobacco companies spend over 80 percent of their annual $8.8 billion marketing budget at the point-of-sale in stores, and this marketing has been shown to increase youth tobacco use. By ending tobacco sales, retailers can help reduce kids’ exposure to harmful tobacco marketing.

10. Exposure to tobacco products and marketing in stores has been shown to encourage youth use of tobacco products and undermine smokers’ attempts to quit by prompting impulse purchases.

VISIT SHOPTOBACCOFREE.ORG TODAY

You can visit the ShopTobaccoFree.org website to learn more about this movement plus learn where you can get stickers and signage to give to your local Tobacco-Free Retailers.