TOBACCO FREE FLORIDA ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO SKIP THE DIP DURING THROUGH WITH CHEW WEEK

This Through With Chew Week, Feb. 18-24, Tobacco Free Florida and Tobacco Prevention Program Manager for the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, Priscilla Bennett, are encouraging smokeless tobacco users to set a quit date and create a personalized quit plan using Tobacco Free Florida’s free Quit Your Way tools and services. Through With Chew Week raises awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco use (chew, dip and snus) and the many effective resources available to quit.

This year Tobacco Free Florida and the department are trying to raise awareness that smokeless does not mean harmless. Information will be distributed at several community events conducted in partnership with local SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) clubs to prevent youth initiation of tobacco and encourage current users to quit. These events include:

 March 4: Marathon High School Health Fair
 March 5: Key West High School Health Fair
 March 11: Coral Shores High School Health Fair
 March 30 and 31: NAS Key West, Southernmost Air Spectacular
 April 13: Sigsbee Youth Fest from 12-3pm

While smokeless tobacco use among Florida youth (11-17) has decreased throughout the years, many communities have significantly higher prevalence rates. The current youth smokeless tobacco rates in some of Florida’s counties are two to four times higher than the state average.5 Smokeless tobacco use rates among youth in Monroe County has seen an increase between 2016 and 2018, with 28% more youth having ever tried smokeless tobacco, and a 50% increase in the number of youth who currently use smokeless tobacco.

Tobacco Free Florida offers free tools and services for Floridians looking to quit any form of tobacco, including smokeless. Those looking to quit can call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669) or visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com/quityourway.
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