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A court order concluded the U.S. government's decades-long racketeering lawsuit against major tobacco manufacturers, including Phillip Morris and R.J. Reynolds.
The order requires tobacco companies to prominently display statements in stores with information about the risks of smoking as a corrective measure to the industry's history of misleading the public.
In 2006, a federal court ruled that Big Tobacco had committed at least 145 violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. This order requires the last of several court-ordered corrective statements be posted starting July 1, 2023 in retail stores that have merchandising agreements with cigarette companies.
These statements are part of a larger judgement that aims to curb Big Tobacco's practice of large-scale deception. The signs will be posted in both Spanish and English.
Quitting tobacco is a common New Year's resolution. However, it can be difficult to do alone. The average 30-day success rate for people trying to quit without help is just 5%.
Last year, registrants who utilized four weeks of nicotine replacement therapy along with the multiple call program from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline reported an incredible 30-day success rate of nearly 52%.
If you or someone you love needs help, call the Helpline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit the website.
TSET also supports cessation programs for teens. My Life My Quit provides free one-on-one intervention for teens struggling with all types of tobacco use through live texting, web chat support and phone coaching.
For youth who prefer group support, Quit the Hit offers a five-week, moderator-led vaping cessation support group on Instagram.
Many Oklahomans are resolving to exercise or eat more nutritiously in the new year, but did you know Oklahoma has a plan outlining the steps we could take as a state to reduce obesity?
The Oklahoma State Department of Health released Health for a Lifetime, a comprehensive state plan to address obesity. The plan is divided into age groups and focuses on strategies that each group can use to reduce obesity.
Along with tobacco use, obesity is a leading risk factor for four conditions - cancer, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease - that cause 57% of all preventable deaths in Oklahoma. Healthcare costs directly associated with obesity in Oklahoma exceed $1.72 billion each year.
The plan is the result of a collaboration of more than 200 partners from a variety of health agencies, including TSET.
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Perspective: Julie Bisbee in the Journal Record
Oklahoma has among the highest rates of hunger in the nation. Nearly 15% of households are food insecure – often not knowing how or when they will have enough food.
However, Oklahoma is poised to make significant strides in the fight against hunger with the expansion of an innovative program that increases food access and encourages people to eat more fruits and vegetables.
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The holidays can be a stressful time for many, especially those grieving a loss. It can also be a challenging time for our physical health.
In Episode 33 of the TSET Healthy Living Podcast, Executive Director Erin Engelke and Clinical Director Heather Gaglio of Calm Waters Center for Children and Families offer ways to boost mental and emotional well-being during the holidays. Kym Hardin of Healthy Schools Oklahoma shares tips for how to stay physically active into the new year, and TSET Health Communication Manager Dylan Jasna shares tasty nutritional resources from Shape Your Future.
"We actually have more say and control over our lives than we think, but sometimes we
allow others to interfere with our schedules," said Ms. Engelke. "And so that would be a big word of advice that I would give - just be really clear about what is
important to you and your family as you enter into the holidays."
Available on TSET's website and everywhere podcasts are listened to: Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, PodBean, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.
TSET is staffed by a dedicated and passionate group of people. This month, we would like to introduce Kira Switzer.
Kira Switzer is a program officer for TSET. She has experience developing, facilitating, and implementing initiatives in social services and public health in Missouri and Oklahoma and worked as a project manager at the University of Oklahoma.
In St. Louis, she held positions with the St. Louis Regional Health Commission; the United Way of Greater St. Louis; and the Maternal, Child, and Family Health Coalition; and also served as a consultant to the Mayor’s Office and several non-profit organizations.
Kira earned a Master of Public Health in Community Health and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from Baylor University.
She is passionate about building the strength and capacity of organizations to make and implement strategic decisions.
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Read about the rest of the team HERE.
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