Tobacco Use Prevention

Tobacco Use Prevention & Cessation Program

This program is funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Health utilizing state (HB 33) and federal funds from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National and State Tobacco Control Program (93.387).

Are you interested in quitting? FREE and confidential help is available!

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit ohioquits.org today to begin your quit journey. This free resource will guide you through the steps to success.
Develop a quit plan. The plan will help you choose a quit date and a support team. The plan will also help you deal with tobacco triggers.
Pick and order your nicotine quit medications (if offered). Quit medications can double or triple your chances of quitting for good. We can help you pick the best option for you.
Follow your quit plan. We’ll give you support for overcoming challenges, managing stress, handling slips and rewarding yourself.

Program Goal: The goals of the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program are to create social norm change through community action to decrease initiation and use of tobacco and nicotine products in local communities, to decrease community member's exposure to secondhand smoke, and to educate youth and adults on the harms associated with tobacco and nicotine product use.

TCHD, in collaboration with Empower Tusc (formerly known as the Anti-Drug Coalition of Tuscarawas County), has created a tobacco/vaping committee to focus on preventing tobacco use/vaping among youth, connecting those who want to quit to resources, and educating the community on the harms associated with tobacco and nicotine produce use. Committee meetings are currently being conducted in-person at the United Way of Tuscarawas County with a virtual option on the second Tuesday of each month at 9AM.

Program Contact:
Lana Schrock, PhD
Public Health Educator
[email protected]
(330) 343-5555 x1860

TCHD is sharing our Youth Anti-Vaping contest entries!

Click video below to view Strasburg High School's entry.

Click video below to view Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School's entry.

Compliance Checks

During the spring of 2025, the Tuscarawas County Health Department (TCHD) partnered with the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) and Empower Tusc to complete 53 compliance checks at tobacco retailers across Tuscarawas County. The purpose of tobacco retailer compliance checks is to ensure that tobacco retailers are following the Tobacco 21 law, which makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase a tobacco or nicotine product.

Out of the 53 tobacco retailer compliance checks conducted, all retailers passed their compliance check and did not sell to an underage purchaser. This is a significant improvement from last year’s 89% compliance rate in Tuscarawas County.

“Compliance checks are an important part of enforcing the Tobacco 21 law and protecting youth from addiction,” explained Terri Miller, Empower Tusc Coordinator. “Following the Tobacco 21 Law cuts off youth access to tobacco, which will lead to healthier, addiction-free youth in our community.”

All retailers will receive a packet of educational materials mailed to their retail establishment, along with a letter to inform them they passed their compliance check and the date and time of their compliance check. “We think it’s important to inform store owners and managers of who was working during the time of the compliance checks so that those employees can be recognized for enforcing Tobacco 21,” noted Lana Schrock, Public Health Educator for the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “Normally, retailers that do not pass their compliance check would be visited by representatives from TCHD and TCSO to hand deliver their packet of educational materials and provide in person education on Tobacco 21, but that was not necessary this year since all stores passed their compliance checks.”

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, nearly all smokers start as kids or young adults, and these age groups are heavily targeted by the tobacco industry. Increasing the tobacco age to 21 helps to prevent young people from ever starting to smoke and to reduce the deaths, disease, and health care costs caused by tobacco use. Any tobacco retailer in Tuscarawas County that would like information on Tobacco 21, an educational training for their staff, or Tobacco 21 promotional resources for their retail establishment can contact Lana Schrock at [email protected].

If you or someone you know needs help quitting nicotine and/or tobacco products, call the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit ohioquits.org to get connected with a FREE quit coach today!