Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide—causing cancer, heart disease, stroke and lung diseases in both smokers and those who are exposed to secondhand smoke. Live a healthier life by quitting smoking now and avoiding secondhand smoke.
Get help to quit
Quitting smoking or other forms of tobacco is one of the best things a person can do to improve their health.
Anyone in Minnesota can get free help through ClearWay Minnesota. Call 1-888-354-PLAN (7526) for English or Spanish. ClearWay can help you with counseling and nicotine patches or other tobacco cessation aids. Callers with health insurance will be directed first to their own health plan for help.
Preventing teen tobacco use
Fewer Dakota County teens are smoking. The 2010 Minnesota Student Survey shows a 56-percent reduction in smoking among 12th graders and a 74-percent reduction among ninth graders.
Dakota County works with parents, schools, businesses, recreational facilities and other community partners to prevent youth access to tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke
Clear the air of secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, including 250 known toxins and 11 known cancer causing poisons.
There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure can be dangerous. Secondhand smoke causes 38,000 deaths per year in non-smokers.
What you can do to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke: