Health Services Agency

Tobacco use, specifically cigarette smoking, remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Tobacco use accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in California.   -Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tobacco Prevention Program

Who We Are

Stanislaus County Tobacco Prevention Program (TPP) is a program of Stanislaus County Public Health Division's Community Wellness and Prevention section. It is funded through June 2025 by the California Department of Public Health's California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP). For nearly 30 years, CTCP has led the fight to keep tobacco out of the hands of youth, help tobacco users quit, and ensure that all Californians can live, work, play, and learn in tobacco-free environments. CTCP is the longest-running, most comprehensive tobacco control program in the nation.

What We Do

Working towards the vision of a tobacco-free Stanislaus, the Stanislaus County Tobacco Prevention Program (TPP) provides education and technical assistance to government agencies, community-based organizations, law enforcement, hospitals, clinics, businesses, and residents. A community-driven process guides Tobacco Prevention Program efforts to shift tobacco-related social norms across four priority areas:

1. Flavored Tobacco Products With candy flavors and unrestricted advertising, e-cigarettes are now the most common tobacco product used by teens. E-cigarettes typically contain nicotine which causes addiction, can harm brain development, and can be a gateway to smoking. The Tobacco Prevention Program works to reduce the harms of flavored tobacco products through education and limit youth access.


2. Smoke-free Spaces Your air should not be secondhand anywhere. Secondhand smoke can cause asthma attacks, ear infections, and lung problems. Smoking can also lead to heart disease and lung cancer in adults. Tobacco litter, such as cigarette butts, is a significant environmental problem and is hazardous and highly toxic to adults, children, pets, birds, and other wildlife. Tobacco Prevention Program promotes smoke-free spaces by educating and empowering communities and providing technical assistance.


3. Community Engagement Tobacco Prevention Program Serves as the backbone agency for the Tobacco-Control Outreach and Prevention Services (TOPS) Coalition. Comprised of various community partners, agencies, and passionate community members, TOPS Coalition acts as an advisory committee to establish and address tobacco control priorities in Stanislaus County. TOPS Coalition maintains a website and Instagram page to engage and educate the community.


4. Cessation Referral Systems Quitting tobacco is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health and the health of your loved ones. In collaboration with healthcare providers, community health clinics, community-based organizations, and passionate partners and volunteers, Tobacco Prevention Program increases the availability and utilization of cessation resources provided by Kick It California.

Ready to Quit Tobacco?

KickItCA.org, formerly known as the (California Smoker's Hotline) is a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Take the first step toward quitting.

• English: 1-800-300-8086
• Spanish: 1-800-600-8191
• Vietnamese: 1-800-778-8440
• Cantonese & Mandarin: 1-800-838-8917
• Korean: 1-800-556-5564
• Deaf/Hearing Impaired: 1-800-933-4TDD

Quit Smoking Text Program through Kick It CA
To sign-up, visit KickItCA.org or text QUIT SMOKING to 66819 from your mobile phone, answer a few questions, and you'll start receiving the message. Text STOP at any time. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Want to Get Involved?

Comprised of various community partners, agencies, and passionate community members, TOPS Coalition acts as an advisory committee to establish and address tobacco control priorities in Stanislaus County. TOPS Coalition meetings are bi-monthly.

To become a member or attend a meeting, please email Tmurphy@schsa.org or call (209) 558-5657 to learn more.

PHAST— pronounced "fast"— is a youth coalition dedicated to Protecting Health And Slamming Tobacco through peer education and advocacy projects in schools and communities across Stanislaus County. PHAST is a joint project between the Stanislaus County Office of Education TUPE Program, the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Tobacco Prevention Program, & Memorial Medical Center.

To learn how to get involved, please email cmonte@stancoe.org or eescalante@stancoe.org or call (209) 238-1368.