You are here: DOH Home » Tobacco Home » Fact Sheet 
Search | Employees
 Site Directory  

Fact Sheet

Preventing youth from beginning tobacco use

 Helping people quit

 Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke

 Reducing tobacco use in high-risk groups

 Contact us

 Links to outside sites

 Map of this site

Alternative file format information

Access Washington

Program Goals

  • Preventing youth from initiating tobacco use
     

  • Increasing tobacco cessation
     

  • Eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke
     

  • Identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities in high-risk groups


Visit the Tobacco
Quit Line Web site 

 


Visit our youth Web site
 

 Secondhand Smokes You
Visit our secondhand smoke Web site

CONTACT: 
Terry Reid 
Department of Health 
PO Box 47848 
Olympia, WA 98504 
(360) 236-36
65
terry.reid@doh.wa.gov

 


Program Overview

March 2008

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and accounts for a substantial share of taxpayer medical expenditures.  Tobacco-related diseases kill about 8,000 people every year in Washington State, more than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires combined.

The Washington State Department of Health greatly expanded its tobacco prevention program in 2000 with funding from the Master Settlement Agreement, which settled a lawsuit against tobacco companies. The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program works with local health agencies, tribes, schools, and community organizations to deliver integrated activities to all Washington residents.  The activities are based on comprehensive, proven, and cost-effective strategies.

Community and tribal programs
The state Tobacco Program funds tobacco prevention and control activities through local health departments and community organizations in all 39 Washington counties. In addition, the Tobacco Program funds anti-tobacco activities in 25 tribes and five community-based organizations serving higher-risk populations.

School programs
All nine of the state’s Educational Service Districts receive funding to help schools improve and enforce tobacco-free policies, provide intervention services for students, deliver research-based curricula, train teachers and staff, and provide information to families.

Quit programs
The Department of Health’s Washington Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW) provides residents with free one-on-one counseling, tobacco quit kits, and referrals to local stop-smoking programs. The Tobacco Program promotes changes in the healthcare system so more people get help quitting and more healthcare providers encourage their patients to quit.

Policy and enforcement
The Department of Health works with the state Office of the Attorney General, Liquor Control Board, and local law enforcement to enforce state and federal laws restricting tobacco sales and advertising to kids, and with local health departments to enforce the statewide ban on indoor smoking.

Public awareness and marketing
The Tobacco Program’s advertising campaign uses traditional media, such as television and radio advertising, to help adults quit smoking and prevent teens from starting. The program also uses innovative approaches to reach youth, young adults, and other high-risk populations targeted by tobacco industry marketing.

Assessment and evaluation
The Tobacco Program regularly collects and analyzes information on tobacco use among adults and youth in Washington, then measures the program impact by comparing results to data collected before the program began.

Funding

The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program’s annual budget from 2002 through 2008 has been relatively stable at about $29 million per year, which includes:

  • Master Settlement Agreement - $17.5 million

  • January 2002 increase in the sales tax on tobacco products - $8.75 million

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - $1.56 million

  • Fees paid by tobacco retailers - $900,000

Washington State ranks 10th nationally in per capita spending on tobacco prevention and control.

For a brief overview of the Tobacco Program’s funding history, see the Program Funding History fact sheet.

.

 


DOH Home | Access Washington | Privacy Notice | Disclaimer/Copyright Information

Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
Department of Health
111 Israel Rd
Tumwater WA 98501

Mailing Address:
PO BOX 47848
Olympia WA 98504-7848

Fax: (360) 236-3646

Last Update : 03/17/2008 12:27 PM
Send inquires about DOH and its programs to the Health Consumer Assistance Office
Comments or questions regarding this Web site? Send mail to Sub site developer