About our program
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Nearly one-half million Americans still die prematurely from tobacco use each year, and more than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking. Despite these risks, approximately 42.1 million U.S. adults currently smoke cigarettes and use electronic devices. And the harmful effects of smoking do not end with the smoker.
Second-Hand Smoke
Secondhand smoke exposure causes serious disease and death, and even brief exposure can be harmful to your health. Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 7,330 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer, and more than 33,900 die of heart disease. Coupled with this enormous health toll is a significant economic burden. Economic costs attributable to smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke now approach $300 billion annually.
Program Target Population
Future Builders' inter/intra-community tobacco prevention and awareness program focuses on - Disparities - with emphasis on the dangerous effects of the use of tobacco products among disparate groups to include women who are pregnant and those who are HIV positive; smoking and mental health, aging, cessation, and counter-marketing the glamorization of smoking in the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual¬Transgender (LGBT) community.
Intervention Areas
Future Builders has four intervention areas:
• preventing the initiation among youth and young adults • eliminating exposure to second-hand smoke
• promoting quitting among youth and young adults
• addressing disparities
Target Counties
Future Builders has seven (7) target counties who have a combined youth smoking rate of 65.7%; a combined youth chewing tobacco rate of 46.8% and; a combined adult smoking rate of 165.3%. Also, over 185.5% of the combined population are minorities (Black).
The counties are:
• Ashley • Bradley • Cleveland • Drew • Grant
• Jefferson • Lincoln
Program Goals
While various factors contribute to tobacco use among disparate populations, one risk factor is common to all the targeted counties and supports an additional need for the program - that factor is extreme economic deprivation. With that fact, 159.8% of the combined population live below the poverty level.
Future Builders hopes to
• discourage and prevent the initiation of tobacco use among youth and young adults • work against tobacco marketing to reduce consumption
• engage the community in tobacco policy change
• eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke • identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities change attitudes about tobacco use • promote cessation among adults and youth