MILTON — As Major League Baseball teams prohibit tobacco use, the Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County and the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida are raising awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco, like chew and dip, during this summer’s Knock Tobacco out of the Park campaign.
The campaign was created to reduce the use of smokeless tobacco among athletes. Professional baseball players, who have traditionally had high levels of smokeless tobacco use, serve as role models for impressionable youths.
Since the 2012 season, professional baseball players have been prohibited from carrying tobacco tins in their uniforms and using smokeless tobacco during televised interviews, at autograph signings and other events where they meet fans, or at team-sponsored appearances. However, these restrictions did not eliminate smokeless tobacco use on the field or in the dugout.
Although youth cigarette smoking rates in Florida are at an all-time low, 6.8 percent of high school students in Santa Rosa reported current use of smokeless tobacco products in 2014, according to the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey.
“Smokeless tobacco products contain harmful chemicals that are known to cause cancer,” said Shannon Hughes, director of the Florida Department of Health’s Community Health Promotion.
At least 28 cancer-causing chemicals have been identified in smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco users have an 80 percent higher risk of oral cancer and a 60 percent higher risk of esophageal cancer and pancreatic cancer compared to non-users. Currently, there is no scientific or medical evidence that proves smokeless tobacco use is an effective method to help people quit smoking.
"(Youths) often view athletes as role models and, therefore, are likely to mimic their behavior, including tobacco use” — or lack thereof, Hughes said.
NEED HELP?
●Call Tobacco Free Florida at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW to speak with a Quit Coach who will help you assess your addiction and help you create a personalized quit plan
●See Tobacco Free Florida’s online cessation tool at tobaccofreeflorida.com/webcoach
●Call 398-6965 to receive in-person help from Area Health Education Centers
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County, Tobacco Free Florida raise awareness of smokeless tobacco in baseball