Tobacco Control Program

Tobacco takes a terrible toll in Rhode Island.  The Rhode Island Tobacco Control Program (TCP) in the Division of Community Health and Equity, Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is the governmental organization responsible for addressing smoking as a major public health problem. The TCP has four major goals, which were adopted by a statewide Coalition:

• Preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people
• Promoting quitting among young people and adults
• Eliminating nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke
• Identifying and eliminating the disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups

Tobacco control activities contribute to reaching the goals of Healthy People 2010.  The TCP strategic plan is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  These recommendations are the product of the successes of previous tobacco control activities in states like Massachusetts, California, Oregon and Florida.  There is no single magic bullet that is successful in tobacco prevention. CDC has found that when the multiple elements included in these recommendations are used together, they produce decreases in smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.  The CDC has recommended funding levels between $10 and $22 million to conduct an effective program. Currently the TCP is funded below the $10 million minimum level.

COMMUNITY COMPONENT

The Comprehensive Tobacco Control (CTC) Initiative is a multi-component intervention designed to create systems and personal change within communities.  The Initiative strives to “change the way tobacco is promoted, sold and used while changing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of young people, tobacco users and nonusers.” 

The strategies being used to create change are:

• A Community Mobilization strategy that increases the number and type of organizations and individuals involved as tobacco control advocates.
• A Policy Regulatory strategy to reduce youth access to tobacco, enforce existing regulations and create new smoking bans or policies that reduce exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
• A Counter Marketing strategy that promotes public awareness about the health hazards of tobacco, combats tobacco industry promotion of use, and promotes quitting.
• A Program strategy that promotes personal change through school curricula to prevent initiation among youth and through cessation programs in schools and community organizations.

The CTC Initiative has involved 6 agencies in Providence, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket: 

• Woonsocket Task Force on Substance Abuse
• Pawtucket Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
• International Institute of Rhode Island
• Progreso Latino
• Urban League of Rhode Island
• Crossroads RI

All of the community projects work together to change conditions that effect tobacco control. As education and advocacy increase, the public more strongly supports protections from tobacco.

State laws that restrict smoking in public places and workplaces were expanded during the legislative session of 2004.   The “Public Health and Workplace Safety Law” took effect on March 1, 2005. This law protects Rhode Islanders at work and in public places from the effects of secondhand smoke. Rhode Islanders will reap the health and economic benefits of being smoke-free. Learn more about this law and to order free materials.

SCHOOLS COMPONENT

Youth are exposed to an evidence-based tobacco prevention curriculum in schools, and a clear no smoking policy that enforces the state Smokefree Schools Act is instituted in each school in the state. Rhode Island Employee Assistance Services assists schools in providing information through tobacco prevention classroom teaching, and through strengthening and enforcing their smokefree policies.

Media campaigns also have been found effective in reducing youth tobacco use, and are carried out by the Communications Unit.

COUNTER-MARKETING COMPONENT

The TCP conducts activities that counter tobacco industry advertising that promotes smoking as glamorous and exciting. The Communications program also provides materials and media advocacy to community projects.

CESSATION COMPONENT

The TCP works with partners to carry out quitting programs that include a telephone Quitline (1-800-Try-To-Stop) which directs smokers or those who care about smokers to the quitting program that will work best for them.  The Department of Health provides an interactive website (trytostop.org), information materials, and telephone counseling.  It also includes a fax referral system for health care providers to refer patients for telephone counseling services.  All health plans in Rhode Island now cover cessation services, counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.  The program serves those 15 years and older.

The Quitline Partners include:

• JSI Research & Training
• Quality Partners of Rhode Island

STATEWIDE PROGRAMS

Statewide programs support the entire Tobacco Control Program. A Resource Center provided by the American Lung Association of Rhode Island provides educational materials. The University of Rhode Island’s Community Research and Services Team provides training, technical assistance, evaluation and other support for programs.

ENFORCEMENT

The RI Department of Health provides enforcement of the laws that prohibit smoking in public places and workplaces, and in schools. The Department also works collaboratively with the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals on the enforcement of the laws that prevent the sale of tobacco products to children and youth.

HEALTH DISPARITIES

In the coming year, funds will be available for a variety of programs that target groups that experience greater health impacts related to tobacco use such as racial and ethnic minorities, 18-24 year olds, and the poor.  These projects will reflect some of the above strategies in tobacco control.