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Quit Today

South Dakota QuitLine is a FREE resource available to any state resident 13 or older. Choose from three ways to leave smoking, vaping or chewing in the past. Quit, stay quit and breathe easy.

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TRIBAL TOBACCO ADVOCACY TOOLKIT

The purpose of the Toolkit is to support tribes and tribal allies with a framework for public health

Access Advocacy Toolkit
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Youth & Young Adults

Children and young adults are especially vulnerable to loss of brain function as a result of vaping.
Even using e-cigarette devices without nicotine can cause damage. To protect your physical and mental health, it's time to quit.

Young Adults
Middle School
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More Good years

Quitting is the difference between quality time with your family and missing out to catch your breath. Enjoy your years really living. Leave tobacco in the past, and live more good years.

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Control Tobacco

Access tools for educators, coalitions and more. Explore our media library, order educational or advocacy supplies and more.

Order Free Signage & Materials

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Commercial Tobacco Targeting

We have lost so many of our loved ones—our grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunties and uncles—to early death and disease caused by commercial tobacco.

How Commercial Tobacco Exploits

Commercial tobacco companies have tied their products to sacred tobacco traditions for more than 200 years. They hijacked our culture by using Native images and symbols (such as patterns, feathers and headdresses) in their advertising and packaging. For decades, this type of advertising has helped tobacco companies recruit new smokers and keep Native people addicted.

Commercial tobacco companies take advantage of tribal people because they know:

  • Nearly half of Native American adults in South Dakota smoke cigarettes. Source
  • Regular exposure to others smoking or using commercial tobacco products makes it harder to quit.
  • Native Americans metabolize nicotine faster than other ethnic groups which leads to a higher level of dependence. Source
  • Native American youth start using tobacco products at an earlier age than other populations.
  • They don’t pay state cigarette taxes when their products are sold on reservations.
  • State-enforced smoke-free laws don’t apply on reservations.
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SD Quitline

In South Dakota, nearly 50% of the Lakota use commercial tobacco — more than 2X the rate of other populations.
Connect with a Quit Coach Today
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TARGETING

Tobacco companies use many tactics to target our people including:

  • Promotions at casinos, rodeos and pow-wows
  • Sponsoring tribal events
  • Offering giveaways, discounts, coupons and free samples
  • Prominent placement of in-store signs and displays—often at child’s-eye level
  • Building alliances with tribal leaders to defeat tobacco control policies
  • Offering free products and money in exchange for tribal data — Source

New Products—Same Tactics

Commercial tobacco companies continue to develop new products to get the next generation (our children and grandchildren) addicted.

Almost all e-cigarettes and vape products contain nicotine. Attractive packaging, sleek devices and a variety of flavors distract us from the harmful chemicals they include and make it easy to forget the high levels of addictive nicotine they contain.

Get the facts on vape’s harmful effects and how it keeps us addicted.

How to Fight Back

Don’t buy or use commercial tobacco products of any kind—this includes cigarettes, chew, hookah, e-cigarettes and vape. Remember:

  • Our elders weren’t able to practice our traditions with sacred tobacco—but we can.
  • Commercial tobacco companies have used our sacred traditions to take advantage of our culture.
  • Nicotine addiction robs our brothers and sisters of their health and money.
  • Commercial tobacco and nicotine make us sick. 
  • Tobacco companies target our children and grandchildren with new, highly addictive products.
  • Help your friends and family quit commercial cigarettes, chew and vape.
  • Share your quit stories and strategies, and stand together against commercial tobacco.
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E-Cigarettes & Vaping
E-Cigarettes & Vaping

E-cigarettes are just as harmful to youth, adults and more as commercial cigarettes.

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Smokeless Tobacco
Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless tobacco products can lead to cancer, lesions and more serious health problems.

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Cigarettes
Cigarettes

Learn information on the dangers and ailments of commercial cigarettes.

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Reasons to Quit
Reasons to Quit

Tobacco in any form is harmful to you, those around you and the earth.

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Quit & Stay Quit

Everybody quits differently. Your quit journey is your own, and only you know what works for you. Find the method that fits into your journey to put out that cigarette, shut off the vape pen or close the tin for the last time. Start your quit journey today, and get back to your life!

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Phone Coaching

Phone Coaching

Get help from a Quitline phone coach. Your coach will be there for you every step of the way.

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Kickstart Kit

Kickstart Kit

Kick the habit with the FREE Kickstart Kit, which ships to your door with cessation medication and the Quit Guide.

 Get Your Kit
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Quit Guide

Quit Guide

Skip the coaching and medication for now. Start your journey with the FREE Quit Guide to quit when you are ready.

 Get the Guide