Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) celebrate tobacco free Florida week with the City of Coconut Creek

SWAT Members

Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) celebrate tobacco free Florida week with the City of Coconut Creek

SWAT Members celebrate with City of Coconut Creek  Commissioners.

By Candy Sims

     Broward County, FL — The fifth annual Tobacco Free Florida Week runs from April 6-13. Themed “High Five: Celebrating Five Years of Tobacco Free Florida Week,” it will highlight progress made in protecting Floridians from tobacco’s deadly toll.

    Tobacco Free Florida and The Florida Department of Health in Broward County – Tobacco Prevention Program educates youth about the harmful effects of tobacco use, aids current tobacco users in their efforts to quit, and brings to light the impact tobacco has on Florida’s health and economy.

    Broward Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) is celebrating by recognizing municipalities that have been supportive of the Tobacco Free Florida initiatives through the passage of resolutions supporting a ban on the sale of candy flavored tobacco products. Flavored tobacco products contain flavors like vanilla, orange, chocolate, cherry and coffee. They are widely considered to be “starter” products, establishing smoking habits that can lead to a lifetime of addiction. Examples of flavored tobacco products are cigars, Snus and hookah.

    The City of Coconut Creek was the first to support the resolution and was asked by SWAT to participate in a photo shoot to celebrate their success.  Other cities in Broward that have passed the resolutions are: Cooper City, Dania Beach, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Margate, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, West Park and Wilton Manors. Additionally, resolutions have been passed by the Broward County Board of Commissioners, Broward County Public Schools and the Broward League of Cities.

    “I commend our partners for their efforts to protect the health of their residents,” said Dr. Paula Thaqi, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Florida Department of Health in Broward County.

    Smokers and smokeless tobacco users interested in quit-ting are encouraged to call the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a Quit Coach.  To learn about Tobacco Free Florida and the state’s free quit smoking resources, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or Twitter at www.twitter.com/tobaccofreefla.