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Allegany County
Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program

Community

The Allegany County Health Department's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program is fortunate to have a strong, diverse infrastructure of support that includes community, faith-based, agency, law enforcement, and education components. Together, we work to prevent youth tobacco use initiation, promote cessation, eliminate secondhand smokes exposure, and reduce tobacco industry influence. Some of our initiatives and campaigns include:

  • Billboards and pre-show movie slides to provide ongoing tobacco awareness and program promotion throughout Allegany County
  • Unique media campaigns tailored to The Great American Smoke-out, Kick Butts Day and World No Tobacco Day.
  • Health fairs and conferences, as well as community group presentations
  • Community and faith-based mini-grant awards for a broad array of activities, many promoting prevention and cessation to youth and/or minority groups
  • Outreach to local physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare providers to educate and promote cessation
  • Media PSA's through collaboration with S.H.O.P. (Students Helping Other People) students targeting tobacco education and cessation
  • Secondhand smoke awareness campaign through collaboration with the Motor Vehicle Administration
  • Outreach efforts reaching out to pregnant tobacco users on the importance of cessation and the dangers of secondhand smoke

School Based

Grant monies awarded to pre-school and Headstart programs, public and private K-12 schools, and local colleges.  They purchase age appropriate educational materials, and, in the case of the colleges, cessation aides as needed.  Some of the educational materials used include:

  • Life Skills for middle school age students
  • Tobacco Tales curriculum for pre-school
  • Growing Healthy curriculum for elementary schools
  • Peer education and cessation at Allegany College
  • Tobacco use screening and cessation services at Frostburg State University's Brady Health Care Center

 

Enforcement

The Sheriff's Department educates local tobacco vendors on laws regarding underage sale of tobacco to minors and monitors establishments suspected of underage tobacco sales.  The Sheriff's Department also issues citations to tobacco law offenders.  They have been working high problem areas this year, such as the mall and school campuses.  

The Natural Resource Police check tobacco law compliance in the county's state parks and forests, as well as along streams and on public lands.

Cessation

The cessation component of our program provides a comprehensive approach to stopping the use of tobacco.  Clients are assessed, a quit plan is developed, medication options are discussed, education is provided, and support is given throughout the quit process.  This program is totally free and open to anyone in the county 18+ years old.  Program highlights include: 

  • Individual Counseling 
  • FREE nicotine replacement patches and/or lozenges with a doctor's note
  • Vouchers good for the 1st month supply of Chantix, when available and while supplies last (must have a doctor's prescription)
  • Late afternoon/ evening hours offered at least one day per week
  • Group education/ support upon request

 

Anyone interested in more information on any component of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program can call 301-759-5050.