Tobacco Prevention and Education

TPEP: Tobacco Prevention and Education Program

Oregon's Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) was launched in 1997 with a clear and simple mandate – to reduce tobacco-related illness and death. Since its inception, TPEP has been a comprehensive program, addressing the issues of tobacco use and Oregon's anti-tobacco efforts are saving lives and money.

Each year in Oregon, tobacco use kills nearly 7,000 people. It claims more lives than motor vehicle crashes, suicide, AIDS, and murders combined. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in Oregon and the nation. Tobacco use costs Oregonians almost $2.4 billion annually – a staggering financial burden, and of particular concern at a time of serious economic difficulties in the state.

Facts:

• In Clatsop County, 21 percent of deaths can be attributed to tobacco use.
• The local cost of medical care for tobacco-related disease is $14 million.
• The rate that eleventh-graders smoke is higher than the adult population, 24 percent to 22 percent.
• Nearly 22 percent of pregnant women in Clatsop County smoke cigarettes.
• Total economic cost of smoking in Clatsop County is $27.3 million.

As a county, we simply cannot afford tobacco.

Quit Line: Make a plan to quit tobacco for good...

For smokers – especially the 73 percent who want to quit – there’s never been a better time to kick the habit. There are many ways to quit tobacco that are proven to help smokers quit for good. The Oregon Tobacco Quit Line provides telephone counseling as well as access to other resources.  Please call:

1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or

in Spanish at 1-877-2NO-FUME (1-877-266-3863)

Many private insurance plans also cover quit services. For more information and support check our resources page.

Smokefree Workplace Law

The Smokefree Workplace Law covers all places of employment. This includes bars, bingo halls and bowling centers, as well as 75 percent of hotel and motel sleeping rooms and all employee break-rooms. In addition, every Oregon business will be required to maintain a 10-foot smokefree zone around doors, windows and ventilation systems.

Employees and the public can help ensure that the law is followed by reporting violations.

If you have a violation to report, please call 1-866-621-6107 or complete an online complaint form.

The complaint will be processed by the state and then forwarded to Clatsop County for verification and follow-up. Response measures for non-compliance can progress from a letter, to site visits, and then monetary fines.

Additional Resources

County data

Tobacco Prevention Data and Publications

Become an EX

CDC Tips from former smokers

KillTheCan.org - A Resource To Quit Dip, Snuff & Chewing Tobacco