Sullivan County Tobacco Free
Coalition
The Sullivan County Tobacco Free Coalition
is a funded partnership, of the New York State Department of Health Tobacco
Control Program. The goal of the coalition is to "de-normalize" tobacco
usage, by using evidence based strategies to educate, mobilize and engage
the community in efforts to reduce tobacco usage and promote cessation.
Two evidence based strategies that the coalition is
presently engaged in are the "Say no to Big Tobacco Campaign" and reduction
of advertisement for tobacco products in retail stores. The "Say no to Big
Tobacco campaign" works with business owners and business leaders to make
them aware of the efforts of tobacco companies to sponsor community events,
thereby presenting an image of concern for the community.
The coalition is engaging retail store owner's,
requesting that they reduce, re-arrange and or eliminate tobacco
advertisement. Exterior advertisements are slowly being reduced.
In the past the coalition has been active is raising
community awareness about the role of seeing movies in which role models use
tobacco. These efforts are leading to any movie which depicts smoking as
being rated 'r'. The coalition also works to promote the service of the
Smoker's Quitline. The "Quitline" provides cessation counseling to those
quitting tobacco usage. There toll free number is 1-866- 697 8487.
The coalition meets monthly on the Fourth Thursday of the
month, at 10am in the Gerry Conference Center, on the grounds of the
Recovery Center.
For more
information call 794-8080, Ext. 126.
