A Year of Progress: Advancing Tobacco Prevention in Lake County
- Demarion Newell
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Lake County Tobacco Prevention Coalition (LCTPC) has had a successful year! LCTPC’s mission is to create a healthier community by combating the harmful effects of tobacco use in Lake County through education, advocacy, and empowerment for all residents.
LCTPC focuses on four priority areas: decrease youth tobacco use rates, decrease exposure to secondhand smoke, decrease adult smoking rates, and protect & maintain state & local infrastructure necessary to lower tobacco use rates.
During the first year of our current grant cycle, we’ve made huge strides in our priority areas and achieved many milestones, such as:
Participated in legislative updates with Representative Frank Mrvan, Public Health Day, and Youth Advocacy Day at the Statehouse. VOICE members had the opportunity to engage with lawmakers and advocate for strong smoke-free air ordinances.
Collaborated with Lake County Schools to conduct vape prevention education and trained three schools in CATCH My Breath.
Promoted the IN Quitline to healthcare providers, employers, youth-serving organizations, and multi-unit housing complexes to increase quitline enrollment.
Completed 100% of the 284 selected tobacco retailer audits during the Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings (STARS) assessment.
Grew our coalition membership and engagement to include 7 new organizations.
These accomplishments were made possible through the support of 35 local, regional, state, and national organizations that partner in the LCTPC’s efforts.
As we transition into the next year of this grant cycle, LCTPC remains committed to reducing tobacco usage among youth and adults, decreasing the exposure to secondhand smoke, and protecting and maintaining state and local infrastructure necessary to lower tobacco use rates throughout Lake County.
The progress we’ve made is only the beginning. Join LCTPC as we fight against Big Tobacco. These accomplishments reflect what we can achieve when a community comes together. Together, we can become a healthier and tobacco-free Lake County!