Prevention and Advocacy

The good news is that we know what works to prevent youth from beginning to use tobacco. The bad news is that while we have made tremendous improvements over the past two decades, there are new challenges that keep tobacco a substantial health threat to our community.

What works:

• Comprehensive smoke-free/tobacco-free policies help eliminate harms from secondhand smoke and make tobacco less normative to a community.
• Increasing the sales price of tobacco, primarily through taxes, reduces youth use and increases quitting.
• Regular retail compliance checks with substantial penalties for violators ensure they are not selling to minors.
• Strong mass media campaigns that promote quitting and educate people on the harms of tobacco use.
• Adequate funding levels for state-based programs to implement evidence-based practices and programs about the harms of tobacco.

These strategies require partnerships across the community, including parents, youth, prevention professionals, businesses, lawmakers, schools, health professionals and anyone impacted by tobacco use.