World No Tobacco Day Shines Light on Tobacco’s Harms
Global event educates on tobacco’s negative impacts
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 25, 2023) — Tobacco Stops With Me, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), encourages all Oklahomans to reflect on the harms of tobacco and recommit to supporting tobacco-free environments in honor of World No Tobacco Day. The global event will be observed on Wednesday, May 31.
“For generations, tobacco has devastated the health of tens of thousands of Oklahomans, which continues today,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “World No Tobacco Day offers an important opportunity to consider the extraordinary damage the tobacco industry causes. We hope it inspires Oklahomans to take advantage of the free resources TSET provides to all who want to quit tobacco, for their health, the health of their families and the health of the entire state.”
In Oklahoma alone, tobacco results in 7,500 deaths each year and creates a lifetime of addiction and health issues for hundreds of thousands. Plus, tobacco use costs Oklahomans an estimated $1.88 billion annually in health care costs.
Tobacco’s environmental impacts are also felt worldwide. Cigarettes are the most littered item in the United States. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), harmful chemicals from discarded tobacco products, including cigarette butts, are a significant source of environmental damage and a threat to human health and wildlife.
Last year, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline served 21,323 Oklahomans. The Helpline offers free services and 24/7 Coaches to help Oklahomans create Quit Plans suited to their needs. The Helpline also provides free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges. If you are thinking about quitting tobacco, text READY to 34191, call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit OKHelpline.com for free, nonjudgmental support.
If your child is struggling with tobacco or vape use, My Life, My Quit is a TSET program offering teens ages 13–17 a variety of free tools to help them quit. Each teen is helped by trained staff via text, phone or web-based coaching. Teens can enroll online or learn more about the program at MyLifeMyQuit.com or text 36072 for real-time coaching.
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Tobacco Stops With Me is a statewide campaign, funded through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Trust, that provides an efficient, emotional and highly recognizable tobacco-free message for Oklahomans to rally around. By educating the public about the negative effects and impact of tobacco, the goal of Tobacco Stops With Me is to prevent and reduce tobacco use, and improve the health and quality of life of every Oklahoman. Tobacco Stops With Me aims to inspire individuals to make positive changes—not only for their own health, but for the health of the entire state as well. Free resources and more information at StopsWithMe.com.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.
The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients or employees live tobacco free. Funding is primarily provided by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served more than 490,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years by the North American Quitline Consortium. Find more information is available online at OKhelpline.com.
My Life, My Quit is a free program to help Oklahoma teens, ages 13-17, quit tobacco and e-cigarettes. By offering free live texting, web chat and phone calls, My Life, My Quit supports teens through the steps of quitting tobacco. Funded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, these free services for Oklahoma teens can be found at MyLifeMyQuit.com or by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072.
