Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed February 27 through March 7, 2009 as Tobacco Free Florida Week to promote smoke free living. Florida smokers are invited to take the pledge to be tobacco free on www.tobaccofreefloridaweek.com.

Numerous Florida professional and college sports team are rallying around Tobacco Free Florida Week, and will include information on the importance of living tobacco free at their games during the week. Participating teams include the Florida Marlins, Miami HEAT, Florida State University Men’s Basketball, Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightening, and the University of Florida Men’s Basketball Team. Information about events is available at www.tobaccofreefloridaweek.com.

Additionally, the Tobacco Free Florida Street Team and Smokifier Van will travel around the state to spread information and host school rallies featuring Florida athletes.

Smoking is responsible for more than 29,000 deaths in Florida each year, and thousands more suffer from cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses related to tobacco use and second hand smoke.

Florida smokers who would like to quit have a number of excellent resources, including Tobacco Free Florida, http://www.tobaccofreeflorida.com, the American Lung Association http://www.lungusa.org, and the American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org.

For more information on efforts to keep the children of Lee County tobacco, alcohol and drug-free, call the Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida at (239) 573-8747 or visit our website, www.drugfreeswfl.org