Volusia County, Fla. - In 2016, nearly half of the deaths of tobacco users in Volusia County were attributed to tobacco-related disease, according to a public health data brief released by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Volusia County. The majority of those tobacco-related deaths were caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

The data brief also analyzes tobacco-related deaths by geography and race. For example:

• Tobacco-related death rates among white residents were higher than all groups.

• Black residents demonstrated the steepest decline in tobacco-related deaths from 2012 through 2016.

• Tobacco-related deaths among Hispanic residents increased significantly.

The full report is online at volusiahealth.com/stats.

The American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout is Thursday, November 16. On that day, DOH-Volusia encourages smokers to make a plan to quit or actually quit smoking in an effort toward a healthier life with reduced risk of tobacco-related cancer.

For free help to quit smoking, call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW or visit TobaccoFreeFlorida.com.

DOH-Volusia provides support and resources to organizations wanting to adopt stricter tobacco policies or offer tobacco cessation programs. For more information, please contact Kristen Mialki, tobacco program manager, at 386-274-0601 or chd64webmaster@flhealth.gov.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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