Donald Shell, MD, MA., acting director of Maryland’s Department of Health Chronic Disease and Tobacco Use Prevention Family Health Administration is interviewed by Cooper Aerobics Todd Whitthorne. Dr. Shell practices “social medicine”, addressing the biological, psychological, and social needs of individuals, families, and communities in local, community, and government settings. In our interview today, Dr. Shell talks about tobacco use, the number one most preventable substance that causes chronic disease in America. Most smokers begin smoking in childhood/adolescence. In addition to cigarettes and dip, there are also candy/sugar flavored little cigars and cigarillos marketed to youth that contain tobacco, and look like brown cigarettes. (See www.TheCigarTrap.com for more info.)

Dr. Shell talks about the ramifications of smoking – including first, second, and third hand smoke, and suggests steps that all of us, as individuals, or in concert with our city, county, or community, can take to curtail tobacco use.