Home is Where the Smoke Is; Health Impact of Secondhand Smoke Is Another Reason to Quit in the Great American Smokeout Nov. 15.

City Desk/Health, Youth & Education Writers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2001

Nearly one-third (34.3 percent) of middle and high students in Florida are exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) in the home by a parent, according to recent study released by the Florida Department of Health, Health Awareness and Tobacco and the Bureau of Epidemiology. ETS is a known cause of lung cancer.

"When you smoke, you are not only harming your own health but the health of loved ones, including children who are most vulnerable," said Frank Penela, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health. "Reducing youth exposure to secondhand smoke is another reason to quit in the Great American Smokeout."

Ten million Americans are expected to participate today (Nov. 15) in the Great American Smokeout by smoking less or quitting.

In 2001, 61.9 percent of middle school and 70.9 percent of high school students were exposed to ETS in a car or a room during the seven days prior to the survey. More than one-third were exposed in their home or in their parent's car, according to the 2001 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS). Florida youth are also exposed to secondhand smoke by friends, with nearly one of five students indicating that the person usually smoking was a friend. About 10 percent of middle school students and 15 percent of high school students have three or four best friends who smoke, according to the FYTS.

Children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from bronchitis, pneumonia, wheezing, coughing spells, ear infections and more frequent and severe asthma attacks, according to a report recently released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Every day in America, 12 million children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their home.

Each year in Florida more than 30,000 people die of tobacco-related causes and many more are diagnosed with tobacco-related diseases, according to the Florida Department of Health. The purpose of Florida's tobacco control effort is to avoid tobacco-related diseases and deaths by preventing and reducing tobacco use and eliminating exposure to environmental tobacco (secondhand) smoke.

Florida's anti-tobacco program includes the youth-oriented "truth" advertising campaign, community health partnerships, educational programs in schools and the Students Working Against Tobacco grassroots advocacy initiative. Since its inception in 1997, the program is credited with reducing teen smoking rates by 47 percent among middle school students and 31 percent among high school students. The program is funded by the $11.3 billion settlement reached with tobacco companies. More information on the youth programs is available online: http://www.wholetruth.com, and http://www.gen-swat.com.

The American Cancer Society offers help quitting smoking at 1-800-ACS-2345. The EPA has also established a smoke-free bilingual hotline where persons can take a smokefree home pledge, 1-800-513-1157. More information is available online at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ets.

Note to Editors: A copy of the FYTS report is available upon request.