Nicotine and Tobacco Prevention (NTP)

Nicotine and Tobacco Prevention works to create a healthier Humboldt County by preventing and reducing nicotine exposure. Strategies include community education, support for public policies that promote healthy environments and behaviors, and collaboration with partners across the community. Our team facilitates two coalitions: the Tobacco Education Network (TEN) and the Tobacco Informed Dynamic Ensemble (TIDE) youth coalition. Printed materials, presentations, and other resources available upon request. Interested in joining the adult coalition (TEN) or the youth coalition (TIDE)?

 Email TobaccoFreeHumboldt@co.humboldt.ca.us to learn more about joining!

TobaccoInformedDynamicEnsembleTobaccoEducationNetwork


Current Priorities

The activities in the 2022-2025 plan include the following:

  • Reduce Exposure to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke.  Secondhand smoke is toxic and cancer-causing. NTP supports development of outdoor smoke-free policies to protect our community, youth, and pets from secondhand and thirdhand smoke. We also help multi-unit housing property owners to adopt no-smoking rules.
  • Reduce the Availability of Tobacco.  There is a high density of tobacco and alcohol retailers in local cities compared to the rest of the state. NTP supports policies that reduce the availability of tobacco. We support healthy choices in the retail environment.
  • Increase Youth Engagement in Local Tobacco Control.  Young people are targets of tobacco marketing. They are also vulnerable to unhealthy community influences. NTP supports development of opportunities to engage young people in tobacco-control activities.
  • Increase community outreach and involvement in the local coalition, the Tobacco Education Network, which is primarily focused on reducing nicotine use and dependence in Humboldt County.

Partners

Other agencies in the community with tobacco-related funding:

  • Rural Initiatives Strengthening Equity (RISE)
  • Tobacco-Free North Coast (TNFC)
  • Communities Against Nicotine (CAN)
  • NorCal4Health
  • Public schools
  • United Indian Health Services (UIHS).

Members of the Health and Social Policy Institute and Tobacco Free Humboldt

At the March 5, 2024, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Meeting, members from the Health and Social Policy Institute presented a Public Health Leadership Award to the Board in recognition of adopting a comprehensive Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) Ordinance. The award is the first to be given to a Northern California government entity. The TRL helps provide local structure for enforcement, as well as funding for tobacco retailer education and compliance checks. The TRL Ordinance also aims to prevent youth access to commercial tobacco.