Then
Sometimes it seems everything was better in the 1980s, but that’s not true when it comes to tobacco use! Throughout the ’80s, we were bombarded with tobacco ads. Our television and movie heroes were always smoking. And for much of the decade, smoking was still allowed in restaurants, work places and even on planes!

Now
Since then, we’ve learned more about the negative impacts and risks of smoking and secondhand smoke. And it’s become less socially acceptable today than in the ’80s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the U.S. Each year, smoking accounts for more than 480,000 deaths, including more than 41,000 from secondhand smoke.

Fortunately, we’ve heeded the warning, and the number of Americans smoking has steadily declined. During the ’80s, 32%  of Americans were cigarette smokers, compared to nearly 14%  in 2018. While the number of cigarette smokers has declined, there is an increase in the number of e-cigarette users, especially among high school students. From 2017 to 2018, the rate of e-cigarette use within this group increased from 12% to 21%. And while some believe e-cigarettes are a safer option than traditional cigarettes, they still contain harmful ingredients, including nicotine, heavy metals and flavoring chemicals.

Tips
If you’re ready to kick your cigarette or e-cigarette habit to the curb, we’ve got the tools you need to leave the smoke in the past. Visit the Tobacco Cessation Resources on PASSport for

• free resources, including state quit lines offering telephone-based programs linking callers to trained counselors (no health insurance required) and
• Tobacco Cessation Program information for Publix BCBS PPO Plan enrollees.