CALVERT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Community
Ten community groups conduct tobacco prevention activities throughout the year. Activities range from softball and basketball games featuring T-shirts with tobacco free messages to peer mentoring groups to American Indian Powwows. "Praise Day in the Park" is a huge faith-based event held in a local park. CDs of the music performed are given to attendees featuring a tobacco free message on the label. The local library hosts "Tobacco Free Teen Nights" once a month with alternating game and movie nights. "Fright Night" has grown to be a popular, safe Halloween event for teens in the county. T.A.C.O.S. is the creation of a Teen Advisory Council that meets monthly and offers guidance for the adolescent perspective to the coalition. Last year, a basketball tournament for Hispanic male residents was held with six teams participating and upwards of 120 people attended. During the tournament, a festive health fair took place with games for the children and authentic Mexican and El Salvadorian food was served. In January, a consultant worked with coalition members to prioritize upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 strategies.
School
School-based programs range from preschool through college age. Preschool programs offer "Adventures in Nicotineland" puppet shows and "No Puff Pals" video and activity books in addition to the Great Body Shop program. Elementary schools enjoy "Stay Tobacco Free," a hip hop musical and Wayne Alan's "Make Smoking Disappear," a magic show with magic books for every student with access to an interactive website. D.A.R.E. is taught to all 5th grade students for 10 days of instruction. Sixth grade students rotate through QUEST utilizing the Botvin's Life Skills program. Seventh grade Science students and High School Health classes receive the "Tobacco Road Show," a visual display and interactive demonstration conducted by Calvert Memorial Hospital along with the traditional health education. Two middle schools are piloting the D.A.R.E. program. Middle schoolers may also see "No Puff Daddy," shows by Sterlen Barr featuring a live rap performance. A middle school poster contest for "Kick Butts Day" is held each year with participants receiving ice cream at their schools. The winning posters are made into posters and distributed to the middle schools to display. School health teachers are trained in Project Alert, a web-based health curriculum and "Toxic Soup" by the American Lung Association. Five of the nine private schools in the county request at least one or more of the above mentioned programs each year. The Prince Frederick campus of the College of Southern Maryland hosts events such as, Souper Tuesday, P.H.A.T. health fair, Great American Smokeout, Lunch and Learn Bingo, and "Let's Clear the Air."
Enforcement
Compliance checks are conducted by the Calvert County Sheriff's Office for 125 merchants. A joint letter from the county health officer and the sheriff is included in the vendor education folders given to merchants to educate their employees. Certificates of appreciation are mailed quarterly to merchants who are in compliance with the law.
Cessation
Seven week smoking cessation classes are offered on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Day and evening classes are held at the north, central and south areas of the county. Worksite classes are formed when requested. Individual counseling is available for pregnant and postpartum women. Participants must either live or work in Calvert County to attend. The nicotine replacement patch, gum or lozenge is offered free to participants regardless of income. In order to receive Chantix, a participant must meet the 250% Federal Poverty Guidelines and obtain a prescription from their physician. Through a voucher system with a local pharmacy, Chantix is given in 2 week increments. If the participant has an insurance plan that will cover part of the cost of the medication, the health department pays the co-pay or balance. All participants using pharmaceutical aids are assessed for side effects and their blood pressure is monitored for the first 3-4 weeks of use. Twenty-six participants have used Chantix in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. The most common side effect reported is nausea, the second fatigue. Clients report improvement with the nausea if a full meal is eaten when taking the medication as recommended.
To ensure that clients stay quit, day and evening support groups are offered twice a month. This practice should have a significant effect on our yearly quit rates.
For more information on Calvert County's Tobacco programs, contact Tammy Halterman, 410-535-5400, ext. 348.
