Tobacco Control Program | DMHSA Prevention & Training Branch

NEED HELP TO QUIT SMOKING?
Find out where to get help.

BREAKING NEWS:
DMHSA is completely tobacco-free as of July 1, 2006.

Our island has the HIGHEST RATE of adult tobacco use among all the US States and Territories.

Guam is in the midst of an epidemic of tobacco use. Our people have the highest rate of tobacco consumption among all US States and Territories, and we are paying the price for it. Everyday, at least one person on Guam dies from tobacco.

We have to stop the epidemic of addiction, disease, disability and death from this harmful product. We know what works, and what doesn’t. We need to put this knowledge into action, today…to ensure a healthy future for Guam.

We are against smoking and other tobacco use, but we are NOT anti-smoker and anti-tobacco user.

Over 60% of Guam’s smokers want to quit. Other tobacco users want to quit, too, but many need help to overcome the powerful addiction to nicotine. Our program aims to assist these smokers and tobacco users.

	Everyday, at least one person on Guam dies from tobacco use.
	Tobacco use is increasing among Guam’s middle school children.
	Over 60% of cancers on Guam are due to tobacco.
	Second hand smoke kills.
	Nicotine is highly addicting. Majority of Guam’s smokers want to quit, but are addicted.
	66% of Guam’s students are exposed to second hand smoke.
	In 2001, the tobacco industry spent ~$32 million per day for tobacco advertising in the US alone.
	Every cigarette takes 7 minutes off your life.

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. He could see a young boy in the distance. The boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.

As the man approached, he saw that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time, he was throwing them back into the water.

The man asked the boy what he was doing. The boy replied, "I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die."

"But," said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference."

The boy smiled, bent down and picked up another starfish, and as he threw it back into the sea, he replied,

"Made a difference to that one."

"Like the starfish story, controlling the tobacco epidemic is about making a difference, despite great odds... one person at a time."