Who are you hurting by smoking?

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition was recently awarded with a Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Grant. According to The Truth Initiative Indiana is among a small group of states that have seen an increase in Tobacco use in the past few years, despite a national decrease in use. And Jay County has some of the highest rates of Tobacco use in the state according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

Twenty-two percent of adults in Jay County smoke compared to Indiana's rate of 21% and the nationwide rate of 17%. Percent of women who smoke is also higher in Jay County than the overall state rate, and cost of smoking related birth effects are more than $62,000 in the county. 

It is commonly believed that quitting tobacco could interfere with with recovery from mental illness or addictions, however, according to Rethink Tobacco, "Tobacco treatment during addictions treatment is associated with a 25% increased likelihood of long-term abstinence from alcohol and illicit drugs." 

If you smoke tobacco, you may be putting more loved ones at risk than you realize. Secondhand smoke can have a negative effect on pets as well as people. According to the FDA, "Dogs can develop changes in their airways and lungs that are similar to those found in people who smoke." And the effect on cats can be even worse: 

"Studies show that cats living in smoking households have a two- to four-times increased risk of an aggressive type of mouth cancer called oral squamous cell carcinoma. The cancer is often found under the base of the tongue, where the thirdhand smoke particles tend to collect after grooming. Of the cats that develop oral squamous cell carcinoma, less than 10% will survive 1 year after diagnosis, even if they’ve had chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation treatment."

Image by KatinkavomWolfenmond from Pixabay

So, what should you do if you or a loved one smokes? Quitting can be hard - especially without support. If you would like to have help and support to quit smoking, reach out to us here at JCDPC for resources, or visit the Tobacco Quitline tab on our website. We would love to help you, your family, and your pets live a healthy and tobacco free life, and our dream is to see Jay County become a leader in Tobacco education and prevention.