HAE

The Office of Public Health Planning and Partnerships is committed to serving as a resource to our partners. Our programs connect with community partners to provide public health perspective and expertise to implement policies and programs that promote evidence-based, equitable, and proactive health outcomes.  Areas of expertise include:

  • Social determinants of health
  • Positive youth development
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Workplan development
  • Facilitation
  • Research and best practices
  • Equity and engagement

Additional Information About Our Programs and Resources:

To report a tobacco or smoking violation complete this form. 

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the nation. Larimer County Department of Health and Environment is committed to preventing tobacco related death and disease in our community. 

Our three main priorities are:

  1. Prevent youth initiation of tobacco and vape products
  2. Support individuals who want to quit tobacco and vape products
  3. Reduce tobacco related health inequities

Need to report a smoking violation or complaint? Visit TobaccoFreeCO

Prevent Youth Initiation of Tobacco and Vape Products

Nicotine use by youth and young adults causes both immediate and long-term damage. One of the most serious health effects is nicotine addiction, which can have severe health consequences. The younger the youth are when they start using nicotine, the more likely they will become addicted. The majority of all tobacco users started using by the age of 18, which is why it is important to prevent youth from ever experimenting with nicotine.

Trusted and informed adults/parents can have a big influence on youth by:

Schools can help youth by:

  • Equitably enforcing the Tobacco Free School Policies.
  • Educating middle school and high school youth who violate tobacco policy at school. Second Chance is a FREE online, interactive, self paced program that can be used as an alternative to suspension. Many schools have found this program to be a useful tool.
  • Helping youth find resources to quit.

Communities can help youth by:

  • Limiting youth access to tobacco and nicotine products by reducing sales to minors
  • Including vaping products in the local smoking ordinance and expanding smoke-free areas (i.e. parks and trails, downtown area, hotels/motels etc.) 
  • Utilizing mass media campaigns to educate community members about vaping.
  • Exploring options that increase the price of tobacco and nicotine products, which is one of the most effective ways to prevent and reduce tobacco use.

Support individuals who want to quit tobacco and vape products

Quit Resources for Youth: 

Quitting nicotine and tobacco products can be hard and stressful.  However, youth and young adults stand the best chance of being successful if they make a plan and seek support. The resources below were made for youth and young adults who want to end their relationship with nicotine products. 

Online and Phone Support

The Colorado Quitline

  • Serves youth 12 years and older 
  • Free coaching by phone and additional support via email, text, or instant message
  • Young adults 18 years + may receive nicotine replacement therapy (FDA-approved nicotine gum, patches, lozenges etc.)

This is Quitting

  • Text DITCHVAPE to 88709 to enroll
  • Exclusively a quit-vaping text message program for teens and young adults ages 13-24

Truth Initiative Text Program 

  • Text “QUIT” to (202) 804-9884 
  • Offers customized content to give teens and young adults tailored quit tips and resources

Smokefree Teens Website

  • Offers tools and tips to support to teens in quitting smoking 
  • Includes options for chat, text, and apps

My Life, My Quit

  • Text "Start My Quit" to 855.891.9989 or call to talk with a coach who is ready to listen and cheer you on

Doctor or Dentist 

Although nicotine replacement products — such as nicotine gum, patches, inhalers or nasal sprays — weren't designed for teens, they might be helpful in some cases. Ask your doctor or dentist about the options.

School-Based Programs

Not on Tobacco (N-O-T) Program

  • 10 week voluntary youth quit program facilitated in schools
  • Ask your school counselor or nurse if N-O-T is being offered in your school

Quit Resources for Adults

If you have tried quitting tobacco and/or nicotine and failed, don’t be discouraged.  Most users fail several times before successfully quitting. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. It is not easy to quit, but it can be done!  

Online and Phone Support

The Colorado Quitline 

  • Serves youth and adults 12 years and older 
  • Free coaching by phone and additional support via email, text, or instant message
  • Adults 18 years + may receive nicotine replacement therapy (FDA-approved gum, patches, lozenges etc.) 

This is Quitting

  • Text DITCHJUUL to 88709 to enroll
  • Exclusively a quit-vaping text message program for teens and young adults ages 13-24

Smokefree.gov

  • You’ll find support, tips, tools and expert advice to help you or someone you love quit smoking
  • Free quitSTART and QuitGuide apps available

Coaching and In Person Support

Get Help From Your Healthcare Provider
It can be difficult to quit tobacco. Ask your doctor about medications to help you quit. Medications combined with other supports have been shown to double your odds of successfully quitting tobacco.

Health District of Northern Larimer County’s Quit Tobacco Program offers free individual or group counseling sessions with trained Tobacco Treatment Specialists to all residents of the Health District of Northern Larimer County. 

Reduce tobacco related health inequities

We all want the same thing: a healthy community where we and our loved ones can thrive. We can all contribute to healthy communities both through our own behavior and by supporting policies that protect everyone. That’s why communities across Colorado are organizing to reduce the toll of tobacco. 

Why it is important: Over the last few years, youth cigarette use has been steadily declining. Yet youth vaping has seen a large increase. The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey is the only comprehensive survey on the health and well-being of young people in our state and is a good indicator of youth use in our community.

Here are possible focus areas your community may be interested in pursuing:

Strong local tobacco retail licensing

  • As of May 2021,  Colorado requires all retailers of tobacco products to obtain a  tobacco retail license to sell. However, local communities can pass stronger policies that ensure local enforcement of the law, reduce underage sales and provide education to retailers.
  • Regular compliance checks may result in large reductions in the use of cigarettes and may also result in lower e-cigarette use.
  • An independent study conducted in Colorado indicates that retail licensing leads to lower tobacco violation rates.

Restricting flavored products

  • More than 80% of youth who have used a tobacco product started with a flavored tobacco product.
  • 82% of teens report flavors as being the reason they use electronic cigarettes.
  • Restricting flavored products can be included in a local tobacco retail license policy. 

Increasing prices

  • Tobacco price increases are a proven tool for discouraging youth use.
  • New Colorado legislation has given local governments more control over the sale of nicotine products, including e-cigarettes.
  • Prices can be increased in a variety of ways, including taxation and laws and regulations establishing minimum prices, restricting the use of coupons, prohibiting the distribution of free samples, and limiting price discounts, giveaways, and retail value-added schemes (like “buy-one-get-one” free offers).

Smoke-free policies

  • Passing smoke-free policies is an important step in creating healthy environments. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking in homes, worksites and public places.

Tobacco-Free schools

  • Implementing a tobacco-free schools policy protects kids from secondhand smoke and encourages young people to never start smoking and/or vaping. We can provide local schools with the tools and strategies to develop and implement comprehensive policies and procedures so they can review, revise, implement, and enforce tobacco-free school policies in their schools and districts.

Find out what is being done at the state level.

 

 

Health Equity Framework:


A Roadmap to Improving Health for Everyone in Larimer County


What is Health Equity?
Health equity is the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. This requires valuing everyone equally, focusing on removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care. Through the equitable allocation of resources and policies that promote equity, this can be achieved.

Health Equity Process Diagram

 

Resources to view or download:

The Population Epidemiology team seeks to share and visualize data to answer questions and contribute to community goals by: 

  • Providing support in identifying data sources to answer the questions and needs of community members and our partner organizations 
  • Highlighting community health needs, goals, and progress by developing a dashboard display [pending launch of County-wide dashboard]  of timely and actionable health data with input from our partners. Some initial areas of exploration for the dashboard include:
    • Behavioral Health
    • Access to Childcare
    • Food Insecurity
    • Climate Change related health concerns
    • Poor air quality
    • Excessive heat
    • Social Influences of Health
    • Other emerging Issues
  • Facilitating sharing data across organizations while maintaining the confidentiality of data

Visit the Larimer County Health, Well-Being, and Resilience Data Dashboard

Strategic Planning, Health Equity, and Partnerships