The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) plans to take advantage of the fact that February is American Heart Month by educating residents about the negative impact smoking and secondhand smoke have on heart health.
Tobacco Free Florida (TFF) is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. The program is managed by the FDOH’s Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women. Every year, over 128,000 people in this country die from smoking-related heart disease and 46,000 die from secondhand smoke related heart disease.
Most people know that smoking can increase the risk for cancer and respiratory disease. But not everyone is as aware of the fact that smoking is an independent risk factor for heart disease and that quitting tobacco is one of the most important steps one can make to reduce that risk for themselves as well as for those around them.
Tobacco Free Florida hopes to make quitting easier, by offering a number of free and convenient resources within the state to smokers and smokeless tobacco users. These include:
- Florida Quitline - simply call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a Quit Coach who will help you assess your addiction and help you create a personalized quit plan.
- Enroll in the Web Coach® online which will help you create your own web-based quit plan that’s right for you.
- Visit the Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network’s website, to locate your local AHEC and sign up for Quit Smoking Now group classes.
- For more information: TTF
- Follow the campaign on Facebook
- Follow the campaign on Twitter
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