"A health disparity exists among Pennsylvania's Hispanic population -- especially where tobacco use is concerned," Dr. Johnson said. "This new Web site is a valuable tool that will enable us to improve our outreach and education to the Hispanic community on the health risks associated with smoking and the benefits of quitting."
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Bureau of Health Statistics and Research, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data, Hispanic adults in Pennsylvania smoke at a higher rate than non-Hispanic whites (28 percent vs. 23 percent).
The Quitnowpa.com Web site works in conjunction with the Hispanic-targeted "Mi Promesa" (My Promise) marketing campaign, which encourages smokers to make a promise to quit smoking for their loved ones. The Web site features critical and factual information about tobacco use, as well as, available bilingual resources for smoking cessation.
This effort is the latest project in the anti-tobacco campaign to encourage individuals to quit -- or not start -- using tobacco products and to curb the retail sale of tobacco to minors.
