Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States!
Pueblo Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (PTEPP) is dedicated to making Pueblo a healthier community. Please visit the other tabs for specific information on a topic.
PTEPP is also a resource for information on tobacco related illnesses. Assistance is provided through a variety of methods including research, pamphlets, brochures, health displays, classes, workshops and presentations to groups and individuals.
Youth and Young Adult Tobacco Use
The average age of initiation for youth who start using tobacco products is 12 years old. It should be no surprise then that 90% of adult smokers started before the age of 18. For those who do become addicted to tobacco there are resources available to help them quit. There are three resources specifically for this age group described below:
- The ownyourC.com allows teens, ages 13 and up, to voice their opinions on healthy living, social issues and other topics. Youth can further express themselves to their peers by uploading images and video to the Web site.
- FixNixer is a free, online and text-messaging quitting tool that guides a user through the process of stopping smoking or chewing tobacco in just 21 days. The program customizes itself by walking the user through the stages of behavior change in an interactive manner, prompting them to examine why they want to quit, identify their triggers for tobacco use and determine ways to cope through those challenging times. From tips and tools that help with preparation, to a personal QuitBlog and motivational text messages that help users stay strong, the FixNixer puts the individual in control. To use FixNixer, visit www.FixNixer.com.
- Face it. Quitting smoking is hard to do. Quitting alone - now that's even harder. In fact, only three percent of people who quit by themselves are successful. That's why www.quitdoingit.com was developed - a futuristic lab that features two great resources to help you quit smoking.
Whatever way works best for you, these resources are to make sure that this time is the last time you quit.
Parents can help their child quit smoking or even to prevent them from trying and starting to use tobacco. There are many resources available, the following are a just a few: