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Rhode Island Tobacco Control ProgramAbout the Rhode Island Tobacco Control ProgramTobacco takes a terrible toll in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Tobacco Control Program (TCP) in the Division of Disease Prevention and Control, 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:
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:
The CTC Initiative involves 9 in 5 urban communities. These projects receive substantial support from the Tobacco Control Enhancement Project (TCEP) conducted by the Community Research and Services Team of the University of Rhode Island. The following community-based organizations are involved with the CTC Initiative :
Small Community Projects provide a wide variety of activities that promote the goals of preventing smoking initiation, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, and increasing quitting. Partners include:
WORD Youth Empowerment Movement The American Legacy Foundation (http://www.americanlegacy.org) funds Rhode Island to conduct a youth-led movement against tobacco entitled WORD. A youth governing board plans and carries out extensive activities in a state-level Activity Center located at 807 Broad Street, Providence, RI., and in local projects. Visit http://www.wordri.org to learn more.
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” will take effect March 1, 2005. This law will protect 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. Media Mini-Grants: A variety of media efforts are funded throughout the course of the calendar year. These funded programs will be announced in February 2005. 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, an interactive website (trytostop.org), information materials, face-to-face treatment with free counseling and free nicotine replacement therapy including free patches and/or free gum. The program serves those 15 years and older. Youth treatment programs are also available in many schools. Partners include:
STATEWIDE PROGRAMS Statewide programs support the entire Tobacco Control Program. A Resource Center is provided by the American Lung Association of Rhode Island which collaborates with the JSI, Inc. Clearinghouse which also provides materials. The University of Rhode Island’s Community Research and Services Team provides training, technical assistance, evaluation and other support for programs. The Worksite Wellness Council of RI provides assistance to workplaces in developing and implementing policies and programs to protect employees from secondhand smoke and to support employee quitting. 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.
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| Rhode Island Department of Health • 3 Capitol Hill • Providence RI 02908 Voice: 401-222-2231 • Fax: 401-222-6548 • TTY: 711 • Contact Us A Rhode Island Government Website • © 1998–2005 |
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