Tobacco Truths Tobacco Myths Quit Now Lifespan Links

General Tobacco Truths Youth Tobacco Truths Secondhand Smoke Truths INTEGRIS Lifespan - Tobacco Truths - Youth Tobacco Truth #1: Oklahoma is a leading state for youth tobacco use. Source: Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Study, 1999. 2002 data is expected soon. Truth #2: Every day, the equivalent of 1 Oklahoma classroom gets hooked on tobacco. Oklahoma kids who become new daily smokers: 9,500 per year (791 per month; 26 per day). Source: Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Study, 1999. 2002 data is expected soon. Truth #3: Tobacco use by Oklahoma high school kids exceeds the national average by 20%. 42% of Oklahoma high school students use tobacco vs. 35% nationally. Oklahoma high school students who smoke cigarettes: 33% (88,000) vs. 28% nationally. Sources: National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2000; Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey, 1999. Truth #4: Tobacco use by Oklahoma middle school kids exceeds the national average by 35%. 21% of Oklahoma middle school students use tobacco vs. 15% nationally. Oklahoma middle school students who smoke cigarettes: 17% vs. 11% nationally. Sources: National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2000; Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey, 1999. Truth #5: Oklahoma's law prohibiting tobacco sales to minors is so weak, we have one of the nation's highest rates of illegal tobacco sales. So many of our stores violate the law, Oklahoma may soon be fined a $7 million federal penalty. No store in Oklahoma has ever faced a suspension of their tobacco sales license for repeated illegal sales to children. Source: Oklahoma State Department of Health Truth #6: 50% of Oklahoma's middle and high school tobacco users want to quit. 7 out of 10 say they've tried to quit at least once during the past year. Source: Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Study, 1999. 2002 data is expected soon. Truth #7: About half of all youths who experiment with smoking get hooked. Youths are easily and rapidly addicted to nicotine. Source: Oklahoma State Department of Health Truth #8: Oklahoma kids who'll die from smoking: 77,000 Given current youth addiction rates, smoking will kill 77,000 kids now under 18, or an average 1,000 per county. Source: Oklahoma State Department of Health Truth #9: Oklahoma kids use spit tobacco at twice the U.S. average. 23% of Oklahoma male high school students use spit tobacco vs. the national average of 11.6%. Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Truth #10: Adult cessation is one of the most powerful ways to reduce youth smoking. Parents and role models who smoke say, in effect, "it's okay" to smoke. Source: Oklahoma State Department of Health Truth #11: Increasing tobacco taxes is another sure way to reduce youth tobacco use. Oklahoma ranks in the "Low" category (less than 25¢ per pack); the national average is over 45¢ per pack. A 10% increase in the price of cigarettes would decrease consumption among the general population by 4%, among pregnant women by 7%, and cut youth smoking by up to 13%. Source: JOURNAL Oklahoma State Medical Association, March 2002. Truth #12: There's no reason why teenage smokers shouldn't use nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products are perfectly safe for youth use — far safer, certainly, than smoking! Source: British government White Paper, 2001.