Smoking remains a significant public health issue in Geary County with rates often exceeding state and national averages. While progress has been made in reducing smoking over time, continued efforts in education, prevention, and cessation support are critical to improving community health. 

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What Efforts Have We Made 

Proactive steps to reduce tobacco use and promote a healthier community. These efforts include supporting a youth coalition through Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, focused on tobacco education and prevention, to reduce future tobacco use among young people.

Additionally, the local Geary Community Farmers Market has been designated as a smoke and vape free environment to encourage healthy public spaces.

We have also collaborated on data collection for the Community Health Improvement Plan and Community Health Awareness Survey, allowing stakeholders to better understand current tobacco use trends and inform future prevention strategies.

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Why The Efforts Matter

• With roughly 1 in 5 adults smoking, Geary County faces:

  • Higher healthcare costs

  • Increased chronic disease burden

  • Reduced overall community health outcomes

• Reducing smoking rates can significantly:

  • Improve life expectancy

  • Lower rates of heart disease and cancer

  • Enhance quality of life for residents

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