Mississippi County Coalition For A Tobacco-Free Arkansas Holds Monthly Meeting

The Mississippi County Coalition For a Tobacco-Free Arkansas recently held its monthly meeting at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville. Dr. Anes Abraham, Founder of the Pediatric & Teens Medical Center of Blytheville was the guest speaker. Dr Abraham said "Smoking, which is the most common cause of lung cancer, is also a leading cause of cancer of the mouth, throat, bladder, pancreas, and kidneys. Over 13 percent of youth ages 12 to 17 used a tobacco product in the past month.” Dr. Abraham stated that smoking is particularly harmful for teens because their bodies are still growing and changing. The 200 known poisons in cigarette smoke affect normal development and can cause life-threatening diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, heart disease, and stroke. For information on quitting tobacco, call the Arkansas Tobacco Quitline at 1-800- QUIT-NOW. That's 1-800-784-8669.