TOBACCO FREE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS
Board
Of Health Survey: Please take a moment to complete this brief
survey (only 6 questions).
This survey will allow us to better understand your needs and interests
around preventing youth access to tobacco products
Click
Here to take Board Of Health Survey
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:
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Secondhand smoke causes more deaths
per year than all other regulated air pollutants combined; |
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3,000 teens become regular smokers everyday in
the United States; |
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Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals, including
43 known cancer causing agents; |
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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
The Tobacco
Free Community Partnership works to decrease the health
and economic impact of tobacco in Hampshire County and share that information
with community leaders, parents, and policy makers by;
• educating parents and other concerned adults about new and emerging
tobacco products,
• monitoring the sale and use of tobacco products by youth and
adults,
• protecting people from second hand smoke including encouraging
landlords to make their property smoke free, and
• encouraging people to quit tobacco use.
The Wellness
Initiative is part of the Hampshire Group Insurance Trust
working with subscribers to improve their health. According to several
national studies illness and injury costs associated with unhealthy
lifestyle accounts for about 25% of employee health care expenditures.
We work to improve health through education, changing individual behavior
and worksite environment to improve health and productivity of employees
and decrease medical costs.
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
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Lower cleaning and maintenance
costs when tenants move |
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Create an environment that attracts
many tenants |
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Creates a healthier apartment building |
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Lowers insurance rates
- because "smoking materials are the leading cause of
home and total fire deaths in the United States" |
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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.