National Great Start Program Comes to Cleveland
Initiative aims to reduce smoking during pregnancy

(Cleveland, Ohio) June 27, 2003
The Cuyahoga County Comprehensive Partnership for Tobacco Reduction announces the implementation of the Great Start program in Cleveland. Great Start is a national initiative designed to reduce smoking during pregnancy. The Great Start program is a collaborative effort among experts in many fields including: public health, social marketing, maternal and child care, and tobacco control.

The Great Start program, which was introduced today, includes a Quitline, a television ad campaign and consumer education materials. The American Legacy Foundation-Great Start television ad is being aired on all local television stations: WKYC-TV; WBNX-TV; WJW-TV; WEWS-TV; WOIO-TV; and WUAB-TV. The ad highlights the need for pregnant Ohioans to quit smoking, encourages pregnant smokers to call the "Great Start" Quitline to get help in quitting smoking, and also delivers a message that pregnant smokers can make a difference in their health if they quit smoking.

Local providers can refer moms to the 24-hour Quitline for free, confidential telephone counseling sessions to help them quit smoking. Moms can also contact the Quitline themselves. Spanish-speaking counselors are also available. The toll-free number is 1-866-66-START. In addition to the Quitline and TV ad, the Great Start Campaign includes an educational booklet that complements the counseling sessions and a video for pregnant smokers.

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones said this program is "providing our kids and moms with a quality start for life. Stopping tobacco use among pregnant women is important. Keeping moms tobacco free is an ultimate goal that must be met and overall a fine example of preventive wellness."

The U.S. Surgeon General has reported that smoking-related diseases among women are a full-blown epidemic. Smoking around babies or young children (secondhand smoke exposure) can cause common children's health problems including asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and hearing problems. The advertising was specifically targeted to Cleveland due to its high percentage of pregnant smokers. Women who smoke during pregnancy are at a higher risk for premature birth, pregnancy complications, low birth weight infants, stillbirth and infant mortality, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In Ohio, 19% of women and girls smoke during their pregnancy, which places Ohio above the national average.

The Cuyahoga County Comprehensive Partnership for Tobacco Reduction, with support from the Health and Caring for All Community Vision Council, is a unique coalition of over 30 health and community organizations and three school districts. The Partnership seeks to prevent and reduce tobacco use in children and adults in the Greater Cleveland area through a variety of programs and initiatives.