Smoking is Detrimental to your Health

Since the first surgeon general's report on smoking and health in 1964, dozens of additional reports have concluded that tobacco use is the single most avoidable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States.

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes multiple types of cancer. Smokeless tobacco (chew) causes cancer in the oral cavity, throat, stomach and beyond.

Vaping: Dangers of E-Cigarettes

E-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) used for vaping are not safe. The CDC found that 99% of e-cigarettes sold in the U.S. contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and not safe for kids and young adults as it harms adolescent brain development. E-cigarettes contain other harmful substances besides nicotine.

The use of e-cigarettes has grown in popularity over recent decades, especially among young adults. The Sedgwick County Health Department provides several no-cost intervention programs to help educate teens about the dangers of vaping.

Ready to Quit?

  • Visit the Kansas Tobacco Quit Line - KanQuit! website.
  • Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for information, coaching and resources to help you quit tobacco!
  • Confidential, free help for teens is available by texting "Start My Quit" to 855-891-9989. Learn more at mylifemyquit.com.
  • Contact the Sedgwick County Health Department for no-cost, on-site training programs for tobacco intervention at this email.

Sedgwick County's Tobacco Prevention Programs

TAKE DOWN TOBACCO PRESENTATION

This presentation is geared towards middle and high school students and covers nicotine addiction, peer pressure strategies, big tobacco and youth targeting. It equips youth with the knowledge and skills to create change in their communities, and to help create the first tobacco-free and nicotine-free generation. It can be presented in a classroom or assembly setting.

INDEPTH: INTERVENTION FOR NICOTINE DEPENDENCE, EDUCATION, PRVENTION, TOBACCO & HEALTH

An alternative to suspension or citation program that is offered as an option to students who face suspension for violation of school tobacco or e-cigarette use policies. It can be facilitated in either a one-on-one or group format and can be offered in a school or community-based setting. The program consists of four sessions of approximately 50 minutes geared toward youth and focused on tobacco use.

N-O-T: NOT ON TOBACCO

An evidence-based approach designed to promote cessation and reduce tobacco/e-cigarette use among adolescent smokers ages 14-19. This group intervention is voluntary and consists of 10 weekly sessions that help teens quit smoking and improve life skills.

To learn more about any of these programs or to coordinate one, contact our Sedgwick County Health Department's Outreach team at (316) 660-7428 or by emailing them at HealthEducation@sedgwick.gov.