Tobacco Awareness

Overview

• TOBACCO AWARENESS ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS: Tobacco use remains the single-most preventable cause of death in our society. Cigarette smoking is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in the United States. Healthy Communities has initiated several programs since its inception in 1996 to reduce the use of tobacco products in Bartholomew County, especially among children. In 2019 Voicing a Positive Environment (VAPE) Club was implemented at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation to education children about electronic smoking devices.

• SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE: Beginning June 1, 2013 nearly all public places in Columbus, including bars/taverns and private clubs, are smoke-free. Vaping was added to the city ordinance and went into effect on October 19, 2019. We continually work to strengthen the laws that protect workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

• VAPING CESSATION: This is Quitting is a free mobile program from Truth Initiative designed to help young people quit vaping. The first-of-its-kind text messaging program incorporates messages from other young people like them who have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes. Truth's messages show the real side of quitting, both the good and the bad, to help young people feel motivated, inspired and supported throughout their quitting process. They also send young people evidence-based tips and strategies to quit and stay quit. This is Quitting is tailored based on age (within 13 to 24 years old) and product usage to give teens and young adults appropriate recommendations about quitting. To enroll in This is Quitting, Indiana teens and young adults text INDIANA to 88709. Additionally, parents of teens and young adults who vape can text QUIT to (202) 899-7550 to sign up to receive text messages designed specifically for parents of vapers.
• The Tobacco Awareness Action Team, a Healthy Communities Initiative, also supports and promotes the Indiana Tobacco Quitline for cessation. Participants in the community classes will automatically be enrolled in the Quitline for additional support. This FREE telephone-based resource is available to all Hoosiers 18 years and older with expanded services for pregnant women. The Quitline now serves youth tobacco users. This new evidence-based phone counseling program is for teens, ages 13 to 17, who are ready to quit. Simply call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669 from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit the Quit Now Website for more information. When you call the Indiana Tobacco Quitline, you will talk with a trained Quit Coach who can help develop a customized quitting plan. The Quitline also offers resources to support partners.
• Healthy Communities provides support to community organizations and businesses interested in additional training or onsite cessation resources for their employees. For more information, contact the Tobacco Program Coordinator at 812-375-3194.

Read more about the state of tobacco control in Bartholomew County:

Tobacco control PDF

Read our fact sheet on Electronic Smoking Devices: