Tobacco-Free Living

Resources and laws to help you and your children live tobacco-free.

If you smoke, you can immediately improve your chances of preventable death if you quit. Tobacco is the top cause of preventable death and disease in Pierce County. Our residents have higher rates of adult smoking than the national average.

That’s why we focus on:

• Preventing tobacco use.
• Helping people who want to quit.
• Laws and regulations.
• Health equity.

Help where it’s most needed

Communities of color have higher rates of tobacco use as well as higher rates of other health disparities. And tobacco use worsens chronic conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), flu, pneumonia, and diabetes. Those conditions—and related preventable hospitalizations—are higher in areas with high rates of  tobacco use.

Young people are especially vulnerable to getting hooked on nicotine. Tobacco and vaping companies make products that appeal to youth and heavily market to them.

To reduce tobacco use, we encourage parents and those who work with children and young adults to keep talking about the health risks of smoking and vaping so young people don’t pick up the habit.

An increase in youth vaping

Our latest data shows vaping increasing quickly among Pierce County youth.

The 2018 Pierce County Healthy Youth Survey shows 23% of 10^th graders reported vaping in the past 30 days—up from 14% in 2016. At the 8^th grade level, vaping use had more than doubled.

Innovate Pierce County

Pierce County continues to be a leader in innovative approaches to reduce vaping and nicotine use among youth.

In 2011, our Board of Health was one of the first to pass regulations on e-cigarettes and vapor products. These established a minimum age for purchase and set rules on where these products could be sold. And our early efforts played a role in the state’s Vaping In Public Places law.

Questions? Contact Jessica Alvestad at (253) 649-1646.