Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Smoking and Childrens Health

1
Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Smoking and Childrens
Health

• Coordinator Name
• Alabama Dept. of Public Health

2
Smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in
the United States

• From 1999-2002, 40 million children between the
  ages of 3 and 19 were exposed to SHS. 1
• More than 400,000 people die each year due to
  their own smoking.
• 38,000 to 67,500 people die each year due to SHS
  exposure and smoking during pregnancy 2

3
Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in Alabama

• 440 1,240 adults die each year from SHS
  exposure.
• 7,400 adults die as a result of their own
  smoking.
• 23.3 of adults smoke. 3

4
Tobacco Use Among Youth

• More than 6 million children alive today will die
  of smoking-related illnesses. 2
• Nearly every adult who smokes started before the
  age of eighteen. 9
• In Alabama, more than 14 million packs of
  cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids each
  year. 3

5
What is secondhand smoke?

• Combination of smoke from a burning cigarette,
  pipe, or cigar and smoke exhaled by the smoker.
• Contains at least 250 toxic chemicals, including
  more than 50 that can cause cancer.
• Also known as environmental tobacco smoke. 4

6
Whats in a cigarette?
7
Smoking and Pregnancy

• Increased risk of low birth weight.
• Increased risk of premature birth.
• Babies born to pregnant smokers are 1.4 to 3.0
  times more likely to die of sudden infant death
  syndrome (SIDS).
• Expectant mothers who are exposed to secondhand
  smoke are 20 more likely to have a low birth
  weight baby. 1

8
Childrens health and secondhand smoke exposure

• Sudden infant death syndrome. 4
• Acute respiratory infections. 4
• Slowed lung growth. 4
• Increased frequency and severity of asthma
  attacks. 4
• Ear infections. 4
• Difficulty learning. 6
• There is no safe level of exposure. 4

9
2006 Surgeon Generals Report The Health
Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco
Smoke

• Millions of Americans are exposed to SHS in homes
  and workplaces.
• SHS causes premature death in children and adults
  who do not smoke.
• Children exposed to SHS are at increased risk of
  ear infections, asthma, respiratory infections,
  and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• Exposure to SHS causes heart disease and lung
  cancer in adults.
• There is no safe level of secondhand smoke
  exposure.
• The only way to fully protect nonsmokers is to
  eliminate smoking in indoor spaces.

10
Secondhand smoke and dental health

• There is an association between
• dental cavities and secondhand
• smoke exposure in children. 5

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How to protect children

• Do not smoke inside your home or car.
• Do not allow others to smoke in your home, car,
  or around your children.
• If you are unable to quit, smoke outdoors.

12
Benefits of a smoke-free home and car

• Improved health for your entire family.
• Reduced health care costs.
• Easier cleaning and maintenance.
• Reduced risk of house fires.
• Your familys clothes and hair will not have a
  tobacco odor.

13
Are you ready to take the pledge?
14
Tobacco Use Among Youth

• More than 6 million children alive today will die
  of smoking-related illnesses. 2
• Nearly every adult who smokes started before the
  age of eighteen. 9
• In Alabama, more than 14 million packs of
  cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids each
  year. 3

15
Increased Cigarette Prices Help Protect Youth
from Becoming Smokers

• Studies show that, for every 10 percent increase
  in the price of cigarettes, youth smoking rates
  decrease by seven percent. 7
• Nationwide, the average state cigarette tax is
  1.112 per pack. 8
• In Alabama, the state cigarette tax is 0.425 per
  pack. 8
• Increased prices make cigarettes less accessible
  to our youth and reduce the risk of subsequent
  tobacco addiction.

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All Alabamians, including youth, are eligible for
free help to quit using tobacco products
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• Provides free counseling and free 4-week supply
  of nicotine replacement therapy.
• This service is provided free of charge to any
  Alabama resident who wants to quit smoking.
• Sponsored by the Alabama Department of Public
  Health.
• N.R.T. is provided for medically eligible
  participants. All participants, regardless of
  medical status, are eligible for free counseling.

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References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
  Preventing Smoking and Exposure to Secondhand
  Smoke Before, During, and After Pregnancy, July,
  2007.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, The Toll of
  Tobacco in the United States of America Fact
  Sheet, November 12, 2007.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, The Toll of
  Tobacco in Alabama Fact Sheet, 2005.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
  Smoking and Tobacco Use Fact Sheet Secondhand
  Smoke, September 2006.
• C. Andrew Aligne, MD, MPH, et al. Association of
  pediatric dental caries with passive smoking,
  JAMA. 20032891258-1264.
• McIntyre, Paul and Carter, Jean, Secondhand smoke
  reduces childrens learning skills. Kids
  Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke website,
  www.kiis.org/home/news/news_reduces.html.
  Accessed on January 2, 2008.

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References Continued

• Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Higher Cigarette
  Taxes Reduce Smoking Save Lives, Save Money,
  12/05/2007. www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports.
• Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, State Cigarette
  Tax Rates and Rank, Date of Last Increase, Annual
  Pack Sales and Revenues, and Related Data, April
  9, 2008. www.tobaccofreekids.org.
• Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Research Center,
  www.tobaccofreekids.org.