The list of illnesses caused by tobacco use is long and contains many of the most common causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, lung disease, many forms of cancer, and vascular diseases.
Cigarette use alone, results in an estimated 430,000 deaths each year in the U.S., including 28,600 deaths in Florida. Secondhand smoke causes 50,000 deaths each year among adult non-smokers in the United States with 2,520 of those deaths among Floridians.
Tobacco-Free Partnership of Franklin County
The Tobacco-Free Partnership of Franklin County is a community coalition of individuals who are committed to making Franklin County a safer, healthier place to live, work, and play. The Tobacco-Free Partnership’s goals are to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, prevent youth from accessing tobacco products, and to provide opportunities for individuals to become tobacco-free.
Smoke Cessation For Adults
The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County, in conjunction with Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), offers 3 ways to quit smoking and all of them are free for Franklin County residents.
By Phone
Call 1-(877) U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669) for free phone counseling sessions and free nicotine replacement therapy (such as nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges) while supplies last.
In Person
Option One: Quit Smoking Now
Tobacco Cessation Classes, created by former smokers, last six weeks for one hour and are held at the Gulf County Health Department in Port St. Joe, FL. They are free and open to anyone interested in quitting.
Smokeless tobacco users are also welcome.
Option Two: Tools To Quit
A “Study on your own” program that will meet face-to-face one time for two hours. After choosing a quit day, participants will receive the necessary tools to assist them in becoming free from tobacco. Classes are held in various locations throughout Franklin County.
Additional information regarding these tobacco cessation services and class schedules is available online at AHECTobacco.com.
Online
Visit Tobacco Free Florida or Quit Now for more information. To register for the FREE Quit Smoking Now classes, contact the Tobacco Prevention Program Coordinator at 850-653-2111, Ext. 6029.