Tobacco Use Prevention and Control

Program Overview

Tobacco use is the most preventable risk factor for disease, disability, and death in the United States. It costs the community millions in dollars for health care costs, loss of productivity and premature death. The Tobacco Use Prevention and Control program provides information, education, and programming for prevention, tobacco use cessation and secondhand smoke awareness.

The program works to address the 4 goal areas for tobacco control programs:

• Prevent initiation of tobacco use among young people
• Promote quitting among youth and adults
• Eliminate secondhand smoke exposure
• Eliminate disparities

Program Components

Program activities, services and partnerships are structured around the Center for Disease Control Prevention Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control programs.

• State and Community Interventions
• Smoke-Free Knoxville Coalition
• Tennessee Cancer Control Coalition
• Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee
• Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids
• Metro Drug Commission
• Resource for Tobacco-free Workplaces
• Health Communication Interventions  
• Paid and earned media spots
• Billboard campaign
• Community Access Television
• Kick Butts Day and Great American Smoke-out
• Promotion of tobacco education materials at health fairs, conferences and community health classes
• Cessation Interventions
• Tennessee Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
• Hospital cessation efforts
• American Lung Association Freedom from Smoking
• Surveillance and Evaluation
• Youth Behavioral Risk Survey (in conjunction with Knox County Schools and Epidemiology Department)
• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
• Administration and Management
• Skilled public health staff
• Grants

Coalition Meetings

Smoke-Free Knoxville meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Community Room at the County Health Department. All community members and organizations interested in learning more about tobacco-free efforts are welcome to join the coalition.

Program Contact

Azieb Kidanu, MPH, CHES
Public Health Educator for Tobacco Prevention and Control
Community Development and Planning

Knox County Health Department
140 Dameron Avenue
Knoxville, TN  37917
865-215-5174
azieb.kidanu@knoxcounty.org

Tennessee Tobacco Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW

Are you ready to quit smoking? Call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). You may also join the program online at www.tnquitline.com. This program is FREE to all Tennessee residents, SO quit waiting and call for this FREE program today!

Smoke-free Tennessee: Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act

The Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act of 2007 allows Tennesseans to breathe smoke-free at numerous restaurants, hotels, and many other indoor establishments. To learn more about this law please visit  http://health.state.tn.us/smokefreetennessee/index.htm or if you have any questions about complying with the Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act call 1-800-293-8228.

2012 Surgeon General’s Report
"How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease”