Extinguishing the tobacco epidemic in South Dakota

SOUTH DAKOTA KEY FACTS In 2015, 30.3% of South Dakota high school youth reported currently using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Among South Dakota high school youth, 10.1% reported currently smoking cigarettes. PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO TOBACCO USE IN SOUTH DAKOTA There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. South Dakota has a comprehensive smoke-free law that prohibits smoking in all indoor areas of workplaces, restaurants, and bars that has been in effect since 2010. Since that law was adopted, South Dakota has continued to inform efforts that protect residents from exposure to secondhand smoke. Upon request, the state provides research, data and analysis, and scientific consultation to communities, multiunit housing operators, hospitals, businesses, and colleges and universities that want to protect residents from secondhand smoke. Currently, 7 colleges or universities in the state have smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policies, including 4 smoke-free campuses for the University of South Dakota and 13 tobacco-free campuses for Oglala Lakota College, which serves the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Tobacco-free environments mean that no tobacco product is used at any time, whereas smoke-free environments prohibit the use of combusted tobacco products only. For more information on tobacco prevention and control, visit cdc.gov/tobacco.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection