Tobacco kills more people than alcohol, illegal drugs, AIDS, car crashes, murders, and suicides combined. Each year, hundreds of our youth will try this addictive and deadly drug. Additionally,Mississippi taxpayers spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year helping to treat those with tobacco related illnesses.
Through a science-based approach, The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi is leading the fight to ensure our youth are able to avoid the dangers of tobacco use, while also helping current tobacco users kick their addiction. The progams of The Partnership help to save the lives of thousands of Mississippi, and save the taxpayers of Mississippi millions of dollars.
Updated May 10, 2006
Don't Snuff Out Success
Mississippi boasts one of the nation's most effective programs to divert kids from a deadly habit. Since 1999, it has helped cut smoking among high school students by 32% — far better than national declines.
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Updated May 1, 2006
The city of Starkville, home of Mississippi State University, has taken a giant step forward in improving the health of its citizens. As of May 20, 2006, the city officially bans smoking in all enclosed public places, including restaurants and bars. Through this action, the city drastically cuts the expose of non-smokers to second hand smoke – a deadly concoction of over 4,000 chemicals. Congratulations and thanks to the citizens of Starkville for doing their part to make Mississippi a healthier place.
Click here to learn more about smoke-free ordinances.
Related Link - Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights
Updated April 17, 2006
The tobacco industry continues to target children as customers, using candy and fruit flavored tobacco products as one tactic to attract young users. Brightly packaged spit tobacco, cigarette flavors like “mocha” and “cherry,” and cartoon characters continue to be used despite Big Tobacco’s settlement with the state of Mississippi. Tactics such as these underscore the importance of a comprehensive tobacco prevention program in our state. To learn more, please see the American Lung Association’s report on candy flavored tobacco products.
Tobacco Policy Trend Alert - Candy Flavored Tobacco