New anti-tobacco billboards showcase local story

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- You may have noticed a couple of new anti-tobacco billboards around town featuring one familiar face.

Dr. Vicki Whitacre is locally featured for the Ohio Department of Health’s Tobacco Cessation Program; a campaign aimed to encourage Ohioans in the area to quit smoking.

“They decided to find a champion in our area and I got nominated to be that champion,” said Dr. Whitacre. “And I included my husband because 40 years ago when we met, I said I’d never marry anybody who smoked, and he quit so we could get married.”

According to data from the Ohio Department of Health 12.1% of teens in Muskingum County are current smokers. Dr. Whitacre said that this area has higher smoking rates than other parts of the state, and nation.

“Our teens have double the amount in percentages that smoke versus the national average. We, just in Southeastern Ohio, still have a lot of people who are smoking. Pregnant moms who are smoking, about one in four, we need to get these rates down even further,” said Dr. Whitacre.

The health department has also partnered with West Muskingum High School to create a group called STAND. It is a group-led, anti-tobacco group that focuses lowering youth smoking rates by means of marketing and media.

The STAND team also has a billboard designed to show that they turn their back on the dangers associated with smoking.