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Tobacco Prevention

Central District Health Department is working to reduce the number of tobaco-related deaths in Idaho through four main tobacco prevention and control goals.

Program Goals:

  • Prevent initiation of tobacco use among youth
  • Promote tobacco cessation among adults and youth
  • Eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
  • Identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities

The health district tobacco prevention and control program works with Idaho Project Filter to raise awareness utilizing counter-marketing strategies, healthcare provider education, youth-based programs, policy changes, and partnerships with local coalitions and community groups that address tobacco issues.

National & Worldwide Tobacco Awareness Observances or Events:

  • Kick Butts Day:
    Kick Butts Day, sponsored by Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, is a national day of activism that empowers youth to speak up and take action against Big Tobacco at more than 2,000 events from coast to coast. The next event is scheduled for March 24th, 2009.
  • World No Tobacco Day:
    On May 31st each year the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce consumption. WHO created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and its lethal effects.
  • Great American Smokeout:
    Third Thursday of November. The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. The Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good.

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Healthcare Providers:

Utilizing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Clinical Practice Guidelines on Treating Tobacco use and Dependence, healthcare providers are encouraged to adopt a tobacco policy incorporating the 5 As tobacco reminder system. The 5A’s include:

  • Ask
  • Advise
  • Assess
  • Assist
  • Arrange

Providers who implement the tobacco reminder system are given patient education materials. Contact us to learn more about the 5 As tobacco reminder system.

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Reducing Exposure to Environmental Tobacco (Secondhand) Smoke

In 2006 The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General was published (see full report). After analyzing the multitude of studies that explored the health risks associated with secondhand smoke, he concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. He declared: "The Debate is over. The science is clear: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard."

Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke. Children are more likely to have lung problems, ear infections, and severe asthma from being around smoke. Secondhand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer.

Eliminating nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke is an important goal of CDHD. One way to achieve this goal is through policy change.

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Smoke-free Housing:

To reduced nonsmoker’s exposure to secondhand smoke, Central District Health Department is working with multi-housing complexes and apartments to enact policy that restricts smoking. Please contact us for assistance in policy development. Useful resources include the following websites:

Smoke-Free Environments Law Project

Oregon Smokefree Housing Project

Employers:

Employers are encouraged to adopt policies that make all indoor places smoke-free and to not allow smoking near doorways and entrances. Central District Health Department enacted a Tobacco Free Campus Policy in July 2008. Our experienced staff has assisted numerous employers with their policy development and implementation. Please contact us if your business is interested in adopting a policy to decrease secondhand smoke exposure.

Smoke-Free Home and Car Pledge:

Make your environment smoke-free. Learn more and take the smoke-free home and car pledge at www.epa.gov/smokefree

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