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- Written by: North Georgia Health District, from the CDC
- Category: Press Room
Promoting Healthy North Georgians!
| 3 Basic Steps for Healthy Living |
| Helping People Who Smoke Quit |
| Increasing Access to Healthy Foods and Physical Activity |
| Promoting Lifestyle Change and Disease Management |
Chronic diseases—such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes—are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $3.8 trillion in annual healthcare costs.
Many chronic diseases here in North Georgia and nationally are caused by a short list of risk behaviors - the most basic risks are tobacco use, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. Recommendations from the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) can help improve the health of residents here in North Georgia.
Fast Stats
Here are 3 Basic CDC Recommendations
Helping People Who Smoke Quit and Supporting Comprehensive Programs
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. As of 2018, about 34 million US adults smoke cigarettes, and every day, about 1,600 young people under 18 try their first cigarette. In addition, 58 million people who don’t smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke every year.
CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health focuses on motivating US adults who smoke to try to quit through its Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign. Tips features real people who are living with serious health conditions caused by smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. The newest Tips series adds compelling stories from family members who take care of loved ones affected by a smoking-related disease or disability.
Tips connects people who smoke with resources to help them quit, including 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which directs people to free services from their state quitlines.
CDC also funds comprehensive tobacco control activities nationwide through the National Tobacco Control Program to:
- Prevent young people from starting to use tobacco.
- Promote quitting among adults and young people.
- Reduce people’s exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Advance health equity by identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities.
What is the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line?
The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is a public health service funded by the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement through the Georgia State Legislature. It is a FREE, confidential, and effective service available to assist Georgians with quitting smoking and all forms of tobacco AND alternative nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and vaping devices. The quit line is monitored by GTUPP and partners with a national tobacco cessation vendor to provide telephone and web-based counseling services in accordance with the United States Public Health Service Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guidelines. The services provided by the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (GTQL) are effective, evidence-based interventions to help Georgians quit smoking and using any other smokeless tobacco products (i.e., dip or snuff).
Learn all about the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line by clicking on YOU Can QUIT!
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- Details
- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
Para la traducción al Español de esta información, haga clic en la opción en Español en la parte superior de esta página.
GEORGIA SENATE BILL 375 - TOBACCO 21 LAW: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Retail Signage in English & Spanish: Click to download and print to clearly display at tobacco products point(s) of sale.The North Georgia Health District wants you to be aware of the Tobacco 21 Law and what we all must do to comply with that law. Here, we are providing you with the information you need to comply with the law and with beneficial resources.What is Senate Bill 375 (Tobacco 21 or T21)? As of July 22, 2020, the sell or barter, directly or indirectly, any cigarettes, tobacco products, tobacco related objects, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products to anyone under the age of 21 years is illegal in Georgia.
What are retailers required to do? Retailers are responsible for upholding the law. Compliance checks are conducted and enforced on a continuous basis to ensure retailers are following federal and state Tobacco 21 laws that prohibit the sale of all tobacco products. Failure to comply with the Tobacco 21 law will result in a misdemeanor.
- Retailer must display Tobacco 21 signage in clearly visible locations
- Use a state-issued driver’s license, military ID, and passport to verify individuals’ age
- Train all staff on the following steps for every tobacco sale
- Ask for valid ID from everyone attempting to purchase tobacco products
- Check ID to make sure everyone is 21 years and older
- Refuse to sell tobacco products to everyone under 21
Why public health needs retailers help? There has been an alarming increase in the use of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and flavored delivery systems among youth and young adults in our community. Almost 1 of every 5 high school students in Georgia are current tobacco users of cigarettes, hookah, cigars, smokeless tobacco, or electronic cigarettes (Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2019). As a licensed tobacco retailer, you play an important role ensuring the success of reducing access and use of tobacco products by complying with the Tobacco 21 law.
What are free resources for quitting tobacco? Georgia residents 13 years and older who want to quit smoking, vaping, or using tobacco, can call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line.
- 1-877-270-7867 (English)
- 1-877-266-3863 (Spanish)
- 1-877-777-6534 (Hearing Impaired)
- Youth and young adults can enroll in This is Quitting by texting VAPEFREEGA to 88709 to quit
Let’s work together to keep our youth and young adults tobacco-free!
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