News and Events

Tobacco Free Florida Encourages Communities to Quit Chew Tobacco During "Through With Chew Week"
February 13, 2020

Okeechobee, Fla. – This Through With Chew Week, Feb. 16-22, Tobacco Free Florida and QuitDoc Foundation are encouraging smokeless tobacco users to set a quit date. Each year, Through With Chew Week raises awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco use (chew, dip and snus) and the effective tools available to quit.

Smokeless tobacco is not harmless and can lead to nicotine addiction (1). Smokeless tobacco causes cancer of the mouth, esophagus and pancreas, as well as increased risk of death from heart disease or stroke (2,3). Smokeless tobacco can cause white or gray patches inside the mouth (leukoplakia) that can lead to cancer (4). It can also cause gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss (5,6).


Okeechobee County Tobacco Prevention Specialist
Courtney Moyett and Commissioner Bradley Goodbread

This year Okeechobee County will be spreading the message of Through With Chew Week at the Board of County Commission meeting on February 13, 2019 at 9am.

Those looking to quit tobacco can create a personalized quit plan using Tobacco Free Florida’s free Quit Your Way tools and services. The Quit Your Way program offers free tools and services like Phone Quit, Group Quit and Web Quit, in addition to individual tools like text support, a Quit Guide and helpful emails. Free nicotine replacement therapy – nicotine patches, gum or lozenges – are available to tobacco users who are 18 or older, if medically appropriate.

For more information on quitting tobacco, you can call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669) or visit tobaccofreeflorida.com.

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References:

  1. Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts and Figures 2010.
  2. World Health Organization. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 89: Smokeless Tobacco and Some Tobacco-Specific N-Nitrosamines. Lyon (France): World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2007 [accessed 2019 Oct 31].
  3. Piano MR, Benowitz NL, Fitzgerald GA, Corbridge S, Heath J, Hahn E, et al. Impact of Smokeless Tobacco Products on Cardiovascular Disease: Implications for Policy, Prevention, and Treatment: A Policy Statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2010;122(15):1520–44.
  4. World Health Organization. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 89: Smokeless Tobacco and Some Tobacco-Specific N-Nitrosaminespdf iconexternal icon. Lyon (France): World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2007
  5. World Health Organization. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 89: Smokeless Tobacco and Some Tobacco-Specific N-Nitrosaminespdf iconexternal icon. Lyon (France): World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2007
  6. Piano MR, Benowitz NL, Fitzgerald GA, Corbridge S, Heath J, Hahn E, et al. Impact of Smokeless Tobacco Products on Cardiovascular Disease: Implications for Policy, Prevention, and Treatment: A Policy Statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2010;122(15):1520–44