Tobacco Free Network - Hampshire Council of Governments

TOBACCO FREE NETWORK

Director: Christine Sass
Assistant Director: Michele Houghtaling

Phone: 413-584-1300 ext: 7
Fax: 413-584-1391 or 413-584-1465

OUR MISSION is to eliminate the health consequences associated with tobacco use through: education, prevention, assistance with quitting smoking, and the elimination of secondhand smoke.

TOBACCO remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Did you know that:

Secondhand smoke causes more deaths per year than all other regulated air pollutants combined;

3,000 teens become regular smokers everyday in the United States;

Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer causing agents;

The tobacco industry spends more than 13 million dollars a day to advertise and promote cigarettes;

Smoking is responsible for 87% of lung cancers;

Smoking accounts for about 30% of all cancer deaths.

PROGRAMS

Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Program
Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Program services 33 towns in Franklin, Hampshire, and Worcester Counties who do not have or enforce local youth access through their Boards of Health.

The goal of this program is to change community norms that support tobacco use, especially the initiation of tobacco use by those under the age of 18.

We provide education to tobacco retailers, youth access to tobacco compliance checks, community education and other activities to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco to minors and prevent initiation of tobacco use among our youth.

Western Mass Smoke Free Apartment Website
(http://smokefree.hampshirecog.org) Many landlords are not aware that they not only hve the right to make their apartment buildings smoke free, but that it makes good business sense.

Smoke free housing is "a simple solution that saves money and lives."
Smoke Free Apartments:

Lower cleaning and maintenance costs when tenants move

Create an environment that attracts many tenants

Creates a healthier apartment building

Lowers insurance rates - because
"smoking materials are the leading cause of home and total fire deaths in the United States"

WEBSITES that would help you in your work are listed below.

Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program (http://www.mass.gov/dph/mtcp)

EDUCATION AND PREVENTION

Make Smoking History (http://www.makesmokinghistory.org) for information about quitting, prevention, schools and workplace smoking policies, smoke free families, and the impact of smoking.

American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org) is a national website with links to local ACS agencies. Cancer information, and related news, research, and media services.

American Lung Association (http://www.lungusa.org) is a national website with links to local ALA agencies. Research and statistics, cessation material, press releases, articles, legislative advocacy, and information on targeted groups (women, minorities, etc.). No on Tobacco (NOT) is their new teen tobacco treatment program.

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (http://www.tobaccofreekids.org) is a national organization with current tobacco news, action alerts, calendar of events, research, tobacco settlement information, and an area for kids. Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (http://www.cctc.ca/) is a Canadian non-profit whose purpose is to provide a national focus for tobacco control and a healthy community. Their mission is to ensure a healthier society, free from addiction to, and involuntary exposure to, tobacco products. Excellent resource.

TOBACCO TREATMENT

TryToStop (http://www.trytostop.org) Developed with the American Cancer Society, this site offers help with planning a process for quitting, including counseling, methods, brochures, tips, and other support.

Make Smoking History (http://www.makesmokinghistory.org) for information about quitting, prevention, schools and workplace smoking policies, smoke free families, and the impact of smoking.