In 2015, 37.6% of Mississippi high school youth reported currently using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Among Mississippi high school youth, 15.2% reported currently smoking cigarettes.
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. Mississippi has a tradition of adopting local comprehensive smoke-free policies throughout the state. Currently, approximately one-third of the state is protected by comprehensive policies at the city or county level that prohibit smoking in all indoor areas of workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Upon request, the state provides research, data and analysis, and scientific consultation to communities, multiunit housing operators, hospitals, businesses, and colleges and universities that want to protect residents from secondhand smoke. In fact, 10 colleges and universities prohibit tobacco use in buildings and on campus grounds in Mississippi.