Tobacco use is the single greatest cause of preventable death, in the U.S. and worldwide. Smokers harm their own health and also the health of family, friends, and co-workers. In this study we wanted to examine two additional issues: (1) do smokers differ from non-smokers relative to other selected health behaviors, and (2) do parents who smoke differ from parents who don't, regarding their support for health education programming focused on healthy lifestyles. At the request of school administrators, parents in a single southern school district were surveyed relative to their level of support for the teaching of a number of health topics. The testing instrument was a questionnaire that was comprised of 73 specific topic items. Respondents indicated, on a seven point scale, their level of support for teaching particular topics for each of three age groups; 9-12, 13-15, and 16-18. Respondents were also asked to respond to several questions dealing with their own health behaviors. Questionnaires were sent home to parents via their child. Parents wee asked to complete the questionnaire, place it in the blank return envelope, seal the envelope, and return it to school via their child. School officials mailed the unopened envelopes to the researchers. Usable questionnaires from 198 parents were received. Data were analyzed using SAS programs to perform frequency counts and chi-square analyses. There was strong support for healthy lifestyle topics. There were, however, significant differences (p<.05) between smokers and nonsmokers in support for programs to help young people resist pressure to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (13-15 age group), achieve and maintain a high level of physical fitness (9-12 and 13-15 age groups), and establish healthy eating habits (9-12 age group). When the data were analyzed by gender these same difference existed for women, as well as for programs to resist pressure to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (9-12 age group). Male smokers differed from nonsmokers only in their level of support for helping young people establish goals for their lives and begin to take the steps necessary to achieve their goals. In each instance nonsmokers were more likely to support the inclusion of the topic than were smokers. There were no differences between smokers and nonsmokers in regard to exercise and fitness items, self-rated eating habits, and perceptions of weight. The results should be of interest to educators attempting to gain support among parents for health education programming. Keyword(s): exercise/fitness, health promotion, wellness/disease prevention