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Want the Real Facts on Vaping?

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BACK TO SCHOOL

"Advertising can also make e-cigarette use look harmless for young people. Lauren, the high school teacher, says that most of her students know that regular cigarettes cause disease and even death. However, she says most of them don’t know that nicotine in e-cigarettes can harm brain development, or that e-cigarettes can be dangerous to youth for other reasons, too."

Click HERE for more information and resources!

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How does COVID-19 affect people who use tobacco products? 

• In general, long-term smokers and e-cigarette users are at a heightened risk of developing chronic lung conditions. The CDC has said that those with serious underlying medical conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease and diabetes, may be at a higher risk from COVID-19.
• Smoking and vaping have been shown to affect the lungs and the immune system, which strongly suggests that using these products increases the risk of infection and worse outcomes from COVID-19.
• Experts are warning, based on current research, that people with compromised health due to smoking or vaping and people with opioid, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other substance use disorders could find themselves at increased risk of COVID-19 and its more serious complications.
• With the global outbreak of COVID-19, now is the best time to quit tobacco use in order to keep your body resilient against disease. There are free resources available that Hoosiers can use in the comfort of their own home, including the Indiana Tobacco Quitline. Those who are ready to quit can call 1-800-Quit-Now for phone counseling, or by visiting QuitNowIndiana.com for more information.
• Young people interested in quitting vaping can text ‘Indiana’ to 88709 to enroll in the This Is Quitting text messaging program.

Click HERE to view the Indiana State Department of Health's coronavirus answers to frequently asked questions.

Mission

Tobacco Free Howard County is a coalition including local partners, nonprofit, health ,faith and community organizations committed to educating the public on the deadly hazards of tobacco use. We are committed to decreasing secondhand exposure, encouraging smoking cessation (1.800.Quit.Now) and youth advocacy to improve a healthier smoke free community.

Services

COMBAT TOBACCO USE

Protect and maintain a tobacco control alliance infrastructure needed to combat tobacco use, as well as work locally to reduce tobacco use.

PROTECT HOOSIERS

Work to protect Hoosiers from exposure to secondhand smoke, supporting local and/or statewide smoke-free air ordinances. 

DECREASE ADULT SMOKING

Promote the Indiana Quitline (1-800-QUIT NOW) and support employers by providing tobacco treatment resources at their workplace.

PREVENT YOUTH SMOKING

Promote and educate the community about tobacco point-of-sale strategies implemented at the local level to entice youth to smoke.

Contact

For more information, contact Jenn Ogle, Tobacco Free Coordinator, at: 765.513.8514 or jennifer.ogle@kokomoymca.org

For more information on cessation, visit: https://www.quitnowindiana.com/

For more information about the smoke free ordinance, visit: http://www.howardcountyin.gov/community/smoke-free

Community Support

After decades of progress lowering smoking rates, we know what works to protect youth from tobacco products. We need state lawmakers to act this year to make sure communities have the resources they need to do this work. Raising the cigarette tax by $2 will generate resources to take on this epidemic. #RaiseItForHealth