Mississippi ranks 46th in the nation for tobacco use. We are still killing ourselves, slowly.
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Office of Tobacco Control, 1,900 Mississippians die each year from lung cancer.
Becky Smith, a 36-year-old mother who lives in Madison County, decided to quit because she wanted to live for her baby.
“I started smoking cigarettes when I was 14. I thought I was cool. Because I couldn’t see lung cancer, I didn’t think about it.” Smith said. “I care about my health now, and the health of my baby. I learned that secondhand smoke is incredibly dangerous and could give my baby cancer. I didn’t want to do that to him.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 20% of all adults in Mississippi smoke. That is significantly higher than the national rate of 15%.
“If you are a smoker, quitting is the best bet against lung cancer,” said Pearl Watts, director of the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Quitman and Tallahatchie Counties.
“In Mississippi only 5% of high-risk individuals get screened for lung cancer. We want to see rates much higher than that. Getting a diagnosis is the first step and the most important step once you quit.”
“Quitting smoking was hard work, and I’m glad I had help,” added Smith.
Using programs like those offered through the MSDH can increase the likelihood of quitting and staying smoke free for life.
Watts reminds all Mississippians that the Health Department stands ready to support you on your smoke-free journey.
“One call to 1-800-QUIT-NOW can change your life for the better,” she noted. “We offer one-on-one support that has been tested for over 25 years. Our program has helped countless Mississippians, and we want to help you too.”
