tobacco prevention resources

Tobacco Prevention and Education Program

The Tobacco Prevention and Education program engages communities to counter tobacco marketing where it matter most- in places where people work, play, learn and live.
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Tobacco Prevention and Education program coordinators work with diverse partners locally and statewide to:

• Prevent and reduce tobacco
• Promote smoke-free environments and communities
• Reduce the influence of tobacco product marketing
• Encourage tobacco users to quit

The Facts

Numbers are improving

• 19% of adults in Columbia County, which is on par the rest of the state
  
• 85% of adult smokers reported a no-smoking rule in their home

Still work to do

• 85% of tobacco retailers in Columbia County sell tobacco at a discounted price
  
• 1 in 3 tobacco retailers in Columbia County display tobacco near candy or toys
  
• 24% of 11th graders use non-cigarette tobacco, including flavored tobacco, chew, and e-cigarettes
  
• One-third of people who have ever tried smoking become daily smokers

Successes

• The Public Health Foundation of Columbia County has a tobacco-free campus including the use of e-cigarettes.
• The city of St. Helens’ parks are tobacco-free
• Rainier Riverfront Park is tobacco-free
• All Columbia County School Districts are tobacco-free
• In 2013 we completed a Tobacco Retail Assessment

Current Tobacco Prevention Activities

*We're working on this section. Check back soon!

Tobacco Retail Licensing

Tobacco 21
Goal: Raise the minimum tobacco sales age from 18 to 21.
Protect Youth:

• Youth who use tobacco commonly get it from people between ages 18 – 20[1]
• The adolescent brain is still developing until age 25, and the probability of nicotine addiction is especially high during this time.
• People who have not used tobacco by age 21 are unlikely to start.

Success:
Two states, California and Hawaii and over 200 cities and counties have raised the minimum tobacco sales age.

[1] Institute of Medicine, 2015 Website: http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2015/TobaccoMinimumAgeReport.aspx

Tobacco Free Properties
Communities across Oregon are successfully creating healthy environments where we Live, Work, Learn, and Play by adopting tobacco-free or smoke-free for policies and/or ordinances. The benefits to tobacco and smoke-free environments are:

• Tobacco policies show our kids that most people don’t use tobacco. Helping kids understand that tobacco use isn’t healthy or fun can keep them from developing a habit that can harm their health for years.
• In Oregon 70% of smokers want to quit. Smoke-free parks make it easier for people who want to quit or have recently quit to succeed.
• Protecting people from secondhand smoke
• Tobacco-free spaces reduce the risk of fire and reduce litter.

Where We Gather:

• Tobacco/smoke-free parks, creating safe environments for friends and family to recreate. Check out the tobacco free parks in St Helens and Rainier.
• Tobacco Free Workplaces, currently the law is no smoking inside or within 10 feet. However Businesses are encourage to create tobacco free properties or outdoor dining

​Where We Live:

• Home: Create a tobacco free smoke-free home rule. Ask family and friends to respect the house rules.
• Tenant: Add smoke-free rule to tenant agreement, it is legal. Click Here (http://smokefreeoregon.com/smokefree-places/housing/landlords/landlord-tools/) for Landlord tools for adopting no smoking policies
• Renter: Check for non-smoking rental options. Tell prospective landlords that you want smoke-free housing.