Tobacco Prevention & Control

During a special Legislative session taking place on Saturday December 11, 2010 Governor Christine Gregoire proposed a $3 million cut in the Tobacco Program budget.  On December 15, 2010 Tobacco Prevention and Control Program staff were notified on a conference call with State Secretary of Health, Mary Selecky, that the cut would be effective January 1, 2011.  The cuts are ordered to come from contracts with local health jurisdictions, like Okanogan County Public Health.

Here’s how this change will affect residents of Okanogan County:

• Okanogan County Public Health (OCPH) will no longer have funding to work with individuals, schools, social service agencies and community partners to prevent tobacco use in Okanogan County.
• OCPH will no longer have funding to deliver local anti-tobacco activities or to raise public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use or to help create tobacco-free communities.

This is unfortunate news for Okanogan County.  Studies show that most adult smokers began using tobacco prior to age 18.  Preventing young people from initiating tobacco use is critical to reduce the long-term health impacts of tobacco.

Here’s what will remain intact, for now:

• The Youth Access program, partially funded by the state Department of Health, will allow for Compliance Checks to continue until June 30, 2011.  Under this program, local retailers licensed to sell tobacco products are routinely tested by underage youth operatives to ensure tobacco is not being sold to minors (under age 18) according to Washington State Law (RCW 70.155). Cashiers and retailers caught selling tobacco to minors must each pay a fine to the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
• If you are smoking, and want to quit, please contact the Quitline toll-free by calling 800-QUIT-NOW or by going online to quitline.com.

1234 S. 2nd Ave.
P.O. Box 231
Okanogan, WA 98840
(509) 422-7140

Web Master: Marta Reed, Email

05/29/08