Tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.
Each year, more than 11,000 people in Georgia die from tobacco-related illness. In some of our local counties, one in three adults smoke and young people have easy access to tobacco products.
In partnership with local public health districts, the Cancer Coalition has created and led several anti-tobacco coalitions in local communities. We worked with the local coalitions to educate our communities and to promote the adoption of 100% tobacco-free policies in school systems, businesses, and public places.
We also have addressed the concerns of smokeless tobacco (“chew”, “dip”) as well as electronic cigarettes and other nicotine vapor devices.
We commend the continued efforts of the state and local public health departments to help more schools adopt Georgia’s 100% Tobacco-Free Schools model policy.
For help to quit using tobacco, we encourage you to contact the Georgia Tobacco Quitline or by phone at 1-877-270-STOP (7867).
The Cancer Coalition has successfully worked with several local communities to encourage tobacco-free environments and youth tobacco-use prevention. For example, we successfully assembled community tobacco coalitions in Miller, Early, Lee, and Terrell Counties. Coalition members received training in strategic planning, the effects of tobacco use, policy advocacy, public speaking, media communications, and more. At the completion of training, youth advocates successfully led community wide education campaigns and prepared and presented data to school district officials, leading to the adoption of 100% tobacco free schools policies (Terrell County youth advocates pictured above and Lee County youth advocates at right).
See a video of one of our youth coalitions by clicking here.