Tobacco Use Prevention

Cigarette Smoking Among Ohio Adults 2004

• Approximately 3 million (26.9 percent) of Ohio adults 18 and older currently smoke – 27.2 percent of men and 24.6 percent of women.
• The smoking rate among Ohio African-Americans is 31 percent, among Hispanics the rate is 25.8 percent, and among whites the rate is 25.3 percent.

Tobacco Use Among Ohio Youth

• 15.7 percent of Ohio middle school students and 28 percent of Ohio high school students are current users of at least one form of tobacco product.

Sources: 2004 Ohio Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (adults), 2004 Ohio Youth Tobacco Survey (middle school students), 2003 Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey (high school students).

The Benefits of Quitting

• Personal satisfaction - You’ve made a positive step toward good health; you’ve been able to beat an addictive substance.
• More spending money - A 2-pack-a-day smoker will save up to $3,000 a year on the cost of cigarettes alone. Add in the cost of ashtrays, lighters or matches, and the ruined clothing and other items you’ve burned holes in along the way and it adds up to even more.
• A better image to your children - over 69 percent of teenage smokers have at least one parent who smokes.
• Increased physical ability and improved stamina - Once the nicotine is out of your system and your respiratory system begins to work well again, you will be able to climb stairs and last longer while participating in sporting events and other physical activities.
• Improved sense of smell and taste - Food will begin to taste better again, and you will be able to smell flowers and other things you have missed since smoking.
• Your appearance will improve - See your dentist for a good cleaning and your teeth will look and feel better. After awhile your fingers will lose that yellow tinge, and you will have a more confident appearance.
• Your house will smell fresher - Once cleaned, your home will smell better.
• Reduced fire hazard.
• Reduced litter from filters, ashes and paper.
• Better social acceptance.

Last Updated: 07/11/2005