Extinguishing the tobacco epidemic in Delaware

DELAWARE KEY FACTSIn 2015, 29.8% of Delaware high school youth reported currently using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Among Delaware high school youth, 9.9% reported currently smoking cigarettes.PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO TOBACCO USE IN DELAWAREThere is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. In 2002, Delaware became the first state to enact a comprehensive smoke-free law that prohibits smoking in all indoor areas of workplaces, restaurants, and bars. However, smoke-free work did not end in the state in 2002. Upon request, the state provides research, data and analysis, and scientific consultation to communities, multiunit housing operators, hospitals, businesses, and colleges and universities that want to protect residents from secondhand smoke. Every hospital in the state has a tobacco-free campus policy that prohibits tobacco use in buildings and on hospital grounds; five beaches in the state have prohibited smoking as well. Furthermore, each of the seven college or university systems in the state have tobacco-free campus policies across all of their campuses statewide, including Delaware State University, University of Delaware, Widener University, and Delaware Technical & Community College. Additionally in 2015, Delaware prohibited e-cigarettes use in places where smoking is not allowed.For more information on tobacco prevention and control, visit cdc.gov/tobacco