Extinguishing the tobacco epidemic in Georgia

GEORGIA KEY FACTSIn 2015, 31.4% of U.S. high school youth reported currently using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Among U.S. high school youth, 10.8% reported currently smoking cigarettes.PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO TOBACCO USE IN GEORGIAThere is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. Georgia does not have a comprehensive smoke-free law to protect people from secondhand smoke in all indoor areas of workplaces, restaurants, and bars. However, the state has continued to identify opportunities to protect people from secondhand smoke in other locations. 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. Currently, five cities and one county have adopted a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance, and 33 University of Georgia campuses have adopted tobacco-free campus policies. Further, the state has partnered with the Georgia Hospital Association and now 132 hospitals are tobacco-free and 31 are smoke-free. Furthermore, these policies prohibit tobacco use at school-sponsored or school-related events both on and off campus. Currently, 116 out of 181 public school districts in the state have adopted tobacco-free school policies.For more information on tobacco prevention and control, visit cdc.gov/tobacco