Tobacco Prevention and Control works to improve the health of the people of North Carolina by reducing tobacco use and exposure to seconhand smoke. This is done by building support for evidence based policies and programs, and by working with organizations and communities achieve these four goals:
- Prevent young people from starting to smoke/use tobacco.
- Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Promote quitting among all smokers and tobacco users.
- Eliminate tobacco-attributable health disparities.
Tobacco Control and Prevention builds support for and provides evidence based tobacco control services with all local health departments (LHDs) (and specifically with funding for 8 LHDs serving 23 counties), Chronic Disease Programs, Oral Health, Maternal and Child Health Programs, Health and Wellness Trust for Teen Tobacco Prevention, Healthy Carolinians, Community Health Centers, and Medicaid providers. The Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch works with Local Health Departments on the implementation of the smokefree restaurant and bars law in NC that went into effect in January, 2010.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in North Carolina and the nation. It is responsible for one in five deaths in North Carolina. It is a risk factor for heart disease, many cancers and asthma. For each death, there are 20 more people who are sick or disabled because of tobacco use. Direct medical costs from smoking are estimated at $2.4 billion each year.