Each year on May 31st, the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsors World No Tobacco Day to encourage people to quit smoking tobacco for 24 hours or as the start of a long-term quit attempt. This year’s theme is “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference”. The 2024 global campaign aims to raise awareness about marketing tactics targeting youth and underage consumers. This includes all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes (aka vapes). These tactics contribute to the prevalence of youth using e-cigarettes at a higher rate than adults.
An estimated 37 million youth aged 13-15 years use tobacco products. Marketing tactics targeting youth include adding flavorings to tobacco products, especially vapes, which are popular among young consumers. Flavors that are minty, fruity, or sweet appeal to youth. Combined with the nicotine in these popular products increases the frequency of product use and therefore, increases the demand. Educating both youth and adults on the marketing tactics used by the tobacco industry is an important step in reducing tobacco use not only by youth, but consumers of all ages.
In recognition of World No Tobacco Day, the Wicomico County Health Department will distribute quit kits. They have items to keep the mouth, hands and brain busy, and to relieve stress. Pick up a quit kit for yourself or someone you care about.
The kits include:
● Stop Smoking Pocket Pal
● Tobacco use tracker
● Gum, mint & lollipop
Quit Kits are available for pick up at the following locations:
● Wicomico County Health Department
▪ Hurdle building, 108 E. Main Street, Salisbury, MD 21801
▪ Adkins building, WIC and Dental 801 Salisbury Blvd, Salisbury, MD 21801
▪ Fritz building, 300 W. Carroll Street, Salisbury, MD 21801
● Lower Shore Friends 207 Maryland Ave. Suite #5, Salisbury, MD 21801
● Chesapeake Healthcare, 1665 Woodbrooke Dr., Salisbury, MD 21804
● TidalHealth Primary Care, 1639 Woodbrooke Dr., Salisbury, MD 21804
● TidalHealth Cardiology, 106 Milford St. Ste 605, Salisbury, MD 21804
● TidalHealth Pulmonary and Critical Care, 100 E. Carroll St. Salisbury, MD, 21801
Wicomico County Health Department offers free confidential smoking cessation and individual counseling. Call today to receive education, support and FREE nicotine replacement patches, nicotine lozenges, or Varenicline (replacement for Chantix). For additional information, please contact Kaitlin Galow, at 410-334-3480. Connect with us at www.wicomicohealth.org or on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Followed by 364 days of Yes Tobacco.
Good luck to all quitters!