As students head back to school, Oakland County Health Division encourages parents and health care providers to talk to youth about tobacco use. Providing a tobacco-free home and discussing secondhand smoke exposure and tobacco use can help prevent youth from future smoking.
"There has been significant progress in protecting youth from tobacco-related health risks, but we still have a long way to go," said Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for the Oakland County Health Division. "Far too many youth still experiment with tobacco products. Addressing tobacco use can help avoid lifetime addiction to a deadly product."
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, youth are sensitive to nicotine and become dependent on it more quickly than adults. This includes nicotine from cigarettes, e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and other emerging nicotine products.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that in 2016:
- Nearly four million U.S. middle and high school students were using tobacco products and about half were using two or more.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 adult smokers started using nicotine products by age 18.
- The Michigan Tobacco Quitline provides services for Michigan youth of any age. Call the Quitline at 800-784-8669 and receive free telephone counseling to help quit tobacco. The Quitline also offers free text messaging and a self-guided online program to help youth. The Smokefree Teen website available at http://teen.smokefree.gov/ also provides additional tools.
Find up-to-date public health information at www.oakgov.com/health or follow @publichealthOC on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Published: Tue, Sep 05, 2017
