Tobacco Control
Tobacco: Still the #1 Real Killer
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, but hundreds of Vermonters still die each year from tobacco-related diseases. Countless other lives, including those of friends and families of smokers, are touched by the negative effects of tobacco use in our state.
Smoking leads to or complicates asthma,
heart disease, cancer, lung diseases, stroke, low
birth weight in babies, and infant mortality.
Of the estimated 75,500 adult Vermonters who
smoked in 2010, half of those who continue will likely die of a smoking-related cause.
Learn more: Smoking - Dangers to Your Health
Most Smokers Try to Quit
Quitting has almost immediate health benefits,
but it can take many tries before a smoker can
quit successfully. Every year since 2004, more
than half of all smokers in Vermont have made a
quit attempt. When you decide to quit, free services from 802Quits.org can help you find success. Best of all, you can get free nicotine replacement, like gum and patches, shipped right to your door.
Quit today at 802Quits.org.
Who Smokes and Who Does Not?
About one-third of very low income (31%), and
uninsured (35%) adults smoke. Those who did
not graduate from high school are more likely
to smoke (39%), and an estimated 38% of adults
with mental illness smoke. Also in Vermont, 27%
of adults and 19% of youth of racial and ethnic
minorities are current smokers, compared to
17% of adults and 13% of white non-Hispanic
youth.
Learn more: Tobacco Surveillance and Research
Exposure to Smoke = Smoking
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand
smoke, yet 43% of adult nonsmokers in
Vermont report having been exposed recently.
Laws and bans on smoking in public places, at
home and in the car, lead to quit attempts.
Learn more: Dangers of Tobacco Smoke in the Home
Tobacco and Smoke-free Initiatives
Secondhand tobacco smoke can result in eye and throat irritation, and increase the risk of lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and heart attacks. Vermont's smoke-free laws protect the public from the health risks of secondhand smoke. Vermont's initiatives support creating a culture of wellness through smoke/tobacco-free colleges and universities, multi-unit housing, and mental health and substance abuse facilities.
Learn more: Tobacco and Smoke-free Initiatives
Radon and Smoking Risks don't add up...they multiply
If you smoke and your home has high levels of radon, your risk of getting
lung cancer is especially high. The EPA estimates that 86% of radon-related
lung-cancer deaths occur among current or former smokers.
Learn more: Radon, Smoking, and Lung Cancer
Smoking and Brain Health
Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the nation. Chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes can put people at risk for Alzheimer ’s disease and other dementias. Smoking can increase the risk of developing these chronic conditions and research is showing it can also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Learn More: Smoking and Brain Health
Youth and Tobacco Advertising
Tobacco advertising at the point of sale is even more influential on teen smoking than peer pressure. CounterBalance is a Health Department campaign to educate Vermonters about the impact of tobacco advertising on Vermont’s youth.
Learn more: counterbalancevt.com
Healthy Vermonters 2020 and Tobacco
Healthy Vermonters 2020 is the state health assessment plan that documents the health status of Vermonters and will guide the work of public health through 2020.
HV2020 Tobacco Use Goals:
- Reduce youth smoking
- Reduce adult smoking
- Increase the number of adults who attempt to quit smoking
- Reduce exposure to second-hand-smoke
Measuring Performance
To meet the challenges of keeping Vermont one of America's healthiest states, we track, measure, report on, and apply data in order to achieve our shared goals for improving public health.
See what it all means for how well we meeting our tobacco control and prevention goals. Explore the Tobacco Use Dashboard