Smoking, vaping and infant mortality
Summary
Health Promotion data shows 17.5% of local infant deaths from 2018-2023 involved mothers who reported smoking during pregnancy — and that likely understates the problem since vaping isn't counted. The Freedom from Smoking program is now restricted to pregnant or pregnancy-adjacent clients due to funding changes, and staff say OB referrals are key.
At a glance
- Total mentions
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- Last 30 days
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Last discussed Jul 9, 2026.
Impact analysis
HFI funding changes narrowed who the cessation program can serve, cutting client numbers at one point to a single client.
Pregnant and postpartum mothers, infants, and families exposed to secondhand smoke.
Smokers outside the pregnancy-adjacent eligibility window can no longer be served by the program.
Mentions & discussions (1)
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