ODH launches anti-smoking campaign aimed at veterans

The Ohio Department of Health has launched an anti-tobacco campaign focused on veterans, a group with a significantly higher rate of tobacco use than the overall population (Source: “Ohio Health Department launches anti-tobacco campaign targeting high rate of smoking among veterans,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Nov. 11, 2015). 

The veterans-focused campaign will use billboards, digital ads on Google and Facebook and bicycle mini-boards to promote the anti-smoking message in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo.

"It has become clear that if we are to make an impact on tobacco use in Ohio we must find a way to impact tobacco use among groups of Ohioans who are affected most," said Mandy Burkett, chief of the Health Department's Tobacco Program.

After releasing its Health Value Dashboard in December 2014, HPIO convened a group of healthcare and public health stakeholders to review Ohio’s greatest health strengths and challenges. This group identified tobacco use as a significant concern for the state. According to the Dashboard, Ohio ranks 44^th nationally for adult smoking, 46^th for tobacco prevention spending and 49^th for secondhand smoke for children.