What is a Tobacco Product?
A tobacco product is any product
containing, made of, or derived from
tobacco or nicotine.*
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This includes commercial cigarettes, e-cigarettes, dip, smokeless tobacco pouches, gummies or even toothpicks.
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Quitting Tobacco is Difficult...
It Was Made To Be
Nicotine has been proven to be as addictive as cocaine and heroin.*
Many tobacco product manufacturers add more nicotine to their products to make them increasingly addictive.
They also add different chemicals to increase the absorption of nicotine and shorten the delivery time of nicotine to the brain.
Nicotine releases chemicals in the brain that make people feel good, but overtime the brain becomes convinced that it "needs" nicotine.
Resources to Help Quit
The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services offers resources for those quitting tobacco products.
Quit services offer wide range of services and specialties to help you along your quit journey including:
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Customized quit plan
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Free nicotine replacement therapy (gums,patches, and lozenges)
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Individual coaching, by phone or online, by trained professional
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Online community support
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Specialized services for teens, young adults, those with behavioral health issues, Native Americans, and pregnant people
The American Lung Association also has a number of cessation resources for both adults and teens:
Freedom From Smoking was created over 50 years ago, with the intention to help smokers quit. Freedom From Smoking is comprised of:
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Flexible format- available on desktop, tablet, and smart phone
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Engaging activities, content, and tools
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Telephone and online chat support
Not On Tobacco(N-O-T) is a program to help quit tobacco products with teens/adolescents in mind. N-O-T offers:
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Ten, 50 minute sessions
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Small groups that emphasizes teamwork and interpersonal skills
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Based in schools or community based small groups settings
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Award winning evidence-based program
Missouri Office:Rachel Sanford
Phone Number: (314) 449-9147
Email:Rachel.Sanford@lung.org
Contact Rachel to receive a free membership for Freedom From Smoking Plus (online version), or to learn more about programs
in Missouri (including trainings for healthcare professionals, school staff, and other providers).
Other Resources:
EX: Mayo Clinic
Customized quit plan with online support!
Empowered to Quit: American Cancer Society
Email-based program to help you quit smoking!
What are the Health Effects of Tobacco?
Smoking can cause:
Smoking affects nearly every part of the body, and has been linked a several kinds of cancer:
Tobacco usage is the leading cause of preventable disease, death, and
disability in the United States.
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Heart Disease
Type Two Diabetes
Stroke
Tooth loss
Anxiety
Tuberculosis
Lung Disease
Cataracts
And more...
Benefits of Quitting Timeline
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What demographics are most affected?
LGBTQ+
People living below the poverty level
Uninsured/Medicaid Users
25-64+
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Men
People in the south/Midwest
Adults with mental health or substance use disorder
A closer look into Missouri...
1 in 4 Missouri high school students use a tobacco product regularly.
Every hour one Missourian dies from tobacco use.
Missouri spends over $3 billion dollars annually in healthcare cost related to tobacco use.
Quick Facts:
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1 in 6 Missourians smoke.
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Missouri losses 3 billion dollars of productivity each year due to smoking.
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1 in 3 cancer deaths are attributed to smoking.
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Missouri has been ranked one of the worst states for prevention and reduction of tobacco use since 2020.
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1 in 10 Missouri women smoke while pregnant.
